Nigeria Police Force don arrest and repatriate one Chinese national, Zhang Shijie, to China. Dem say e get hand for alleged smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of endangered African Rosewood wey dem value around 15.7 million Chinese Yuan.
According to statement from Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Thursday, Zhang dey wanted by Yangpu Sub-Bureau of Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District in China over the alleged offence.
Warrant for him arrest come out on January 7, 2021, after alleged smuggling activities wey happen between November 2020 and January 2021.
Statement talk say Zhang allegedly run commot China after di incident and later enter Nigeria, where dem locate am for Ogun State. Report say he dey live for di country with Chinese passport wey expire on November 11, 2023.
Operatives of INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, arrest Zhang on September 10, 2026, for Ogere area of Ogun State after intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigations, police talk.
Dem later hand di suspect over to Chinese authorities and repatriate am to Guangzhou on September 16, 2026, as part of cooperation between law-enforcement agencies for Nigeria and China.
Di case center on alleged illegal movement of about 1,400 tonnes of Pterocarpus erinaceus, wey people sabi as African Rosewood. Di tree species native to West Africa and international restrictions dey on am because of concerns over exploitation and trade.
Nigeria Police Force talk say dem carry out di arrest through INTERPOL mechanisms to make sure Nigeria no become refuge for people wey authorities want for criminal offences for other countries.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu talk say di force go continue to strengthen international police cooperation and use INTERPOL tools to locate and catch fugitives wey dey involved for transnational organised crime, according to di statement.
Police talk di repatriation also show continued cooperation between Nigerian law-enforcement authorities and their international counterparts for tackling cross-border criminal activities.
Zhang case go now dey handled by relevant authorities for China, where authorities want am in connection with di alleged rosewood smuggling operation.
