China is using its “overseas police service stations” to spy on Chinese nationals in Nigeria and other countries across the world.

An investigation by human rights watchdog Safeguard Defenders into Chinese-run police stations in Nigeria and other countries raised security concerns that the “overseas police service stations” are part of “a complex global web of surveillance and control.”

The news of Beijing-run police stations followed the release of Madrid-based human rights group Safeguard Defenders titled ‘110 Overseas: Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild‘.

According to the report, these police stations have been opened in 22 countries worldwide. In Nigeria, the Fuzhou-Run overseas police “Service Station” is said to be located in Benin City, Edo.

“Openly labelled as overseas police service stations … they contribute to ‘resolutely cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese,” Safeguard Defenders said. 

The investigation by Safeguard Defenders explained that while the overseas police service centres may help the Chinese diaspora and tourists with everyday problems, they are part of a complex global web of surveillance and control, allowing the Communist Party to reach far beyond China’s borders.

The New York Post reported the China-run police station in New York was owned and operated by a non-profit organisation, America ChangLe Association NY Inc., blacklisted by the Internal Revenue Service.

The non-profit was incorporated in 2013, and its charitable purpose included serving as a “social gathering place for Fujianese people.” 

The Post said the organisation paid $1.3 million three years later for offices that the Fuzhou Police Overseas Chinese Affairs bureau ran out of. In the last filing in 2018, the non-profit listed donations of $135,950 and total assets of $1.1 million. 

The report noted that China opened the police stations to “combat the growing issue of fraud and telecommunication fraud by Chinese nationals living abroad.” 

Still, its operations have resulted in 230,000 Chinese nationals being “persuaded to return” to China “voluntarily” in the last year to face criminal prosecution, according to Safeguard Defenders.

The report also outlines the potential human rights abuses associated with the stations, including using harassment and intimidation methods, such as threatening the family members of overseas citizens.