The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a wanted fugitive, Cai Jinlian to the People’s Republic of China to face charges related to the trafficking of endangered wildlife.

A statement on Wednesday by Ani Iniedu, the force spokesperson, said the repatriation was carried out through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja.

“Jinlian is wanted for smuggling approximately 12 tonnes of tree pangolin scales from Nigeria into China in two consignments between November 2018 and April 2019, following investigations by the Anti-Smuggling Sub Bureau of Wenzhou Customs,” he said. 

He added that the suspect’s two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to more than 14 years’ imprisonment by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court of Zhejiang Province in December 2020.

Mr Iniedu said that after fleeing China to Egypt on July 12, 2019, a warrant for Mr Jinlian’s arrest was issued on March 24, 2020, followed by the publication of an INTERPOL Red Notice on May 10, 2020.

“Intelligence later established that he had relocated to Nigeria around 2023, moving between Delta and Plateau States.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested him in Abuja on July 18, 2026, and repatriated him to Shanghai on July 29, 2026, under bilateral police cooperation arrangements to face the pending charges,” he said.