Jane Salihu
The Nigeria Police Force has tracked down and repatriated a Chinese national wanted by authorities in China over the alleged smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of endangered African rosewood, highlighting the growing use of international police cooperation to pursue transnational environmental crimes.
The suspect, Zhang Shijie, was arrested in the Ogere area of Ogun State on September 10, 2026, by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, after sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigations.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in a statement issued on Thursday, Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District, China.
Iniedu said an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect on January 7, 2021, over his alleged involvement in the smuggling of approximately 1,400 tonnes of Pterocarpus erinaceus, commonly known as African Rosewood.
The consignment was valued at about 15.7 million Chinese Yuan, with the alleged offences taking place between November 2020 and January 2021.
The police spokesman said Zhang subsequently remained outside China, before intelligence established that he was residing in Ogun State.
At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a Chinese passport which had expired on November 11, 2023.
Following his arrest, Zhang was repatriated to Guangzhou, China, on September 16, 2026, through INTERPOL channels as part of bilateral police cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The development comes amid increasing law-enforcement efforts to pursue suspects involved in cross-border environmental and organised crimes, with Nigerian authorities using INTERPOL mechanisms to trace persons wanted in other jurisdictions.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, according to Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force would continue to strengthen international police cooperation and maximise INTERPOL tools and capabilities to track fugitives and combat transnational organised crime.
Disu also stressed the importance of preventing Nigeria from being used as a safe haven by persons wanted for alleged criminal offences in other countries.
The Force Public Relations Officer said the police would continue working with INTERPOL and other international law-enforcement partners to strengthen cross-border security, disrupt transnational criminal networks and ensure that fugitives are brought within the reach of justice.
