The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, has arrested and repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Cai Jinlian, to the People’s Republic of China to face charges over alleged trafficking in endangered wildlife.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, Jinlian, 42, is wanted by Chinese authorities for allegedly smuggling about 12 tonnes of tree pangolin scales from Nigeria into China in two consignments between November 2018 and April 2019.
According to the police, investigations conducted by the Anti-Smuggling Sub Bureau of Wenzhou Customs linked the suspect to the illegal wildlife trafficking operation. Two of his accomplices were subsequently convicted by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court of Zhejiang Province in December 2020 and sentenced to more than 14 years’ imprisonment.
The statement disclosed that Jinlian fled China to Egypt on July 12, 2019, prompting Chinese authorities to secure an arrest warrant against him on March 24, 2020. An INTERPOL Red Notice was later issued on May 10, 2020.
Further intelligence revealed that the fugitive relocated to Nigeria around 2023, where he reportedly moved between Delta and Plateau states before being tracked.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested Jinlian in Abuja on July 18, 2026. He was subsequently repatriated to Shanghai on July 29, 2026, under bilateral police cooperation arrangements to face the pending charges.
Reacting to the successful operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olutunji Rilwan Disu, commended the professionalism and dedication of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja team.
The IGP also directed the Environmental Crimes and Works of Art Team to intensify intelligence-driven operations against wildlife trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening international law enforcement collaboration through INTERPOL and other strategic partnerships in the fight against transnational crime and the protection of endangered wildlife.
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