Nigeria police repatriate 42-year-old Chinese fugitive wanted for wildlife trafficking

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 -The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a 42-year-old Chinese fugitive, Cai Jinlian, to the People’s Republic of China to face charges relating to the trafficking of endangered wildlife. 

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. 

According to the statement, the fugitive was arrested by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja on July 18. 

Iniedu said Jinlian is accused of masterminding the illegal shipment of two consignments of tree pangolin scales from Nigeria to China between November 2018 and April 2019. 

Two of his accomplices were convicted and sentenced to more than 14 years imprisonment in December 2020 following investigation by the Anti-Smuggling Sub Bureau of Wenzhou Customs.

Jinlian fled China for Egypt on July 12, 2019, before an arrest warrant was issued against him on March 24, 2020. 

Intelligence later established that he had relocated to Nigeria around 2023. 

"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,” the statement read. 

"His two accomplices were convicted and sentenced to over 14 years’ imprisonment by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court of Zhejiang Province in December 2020.

"After fleeing China to Egypt on July 12, 2019, a warrant for 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.

"The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olutunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, commended the professionalism and dedication of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja team in the successful operation, charging the Environmental Crimes and Works of Art Team to intensify intelligence-led efforts against wildlife trafficking and other transnational organized crimes. 

“He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening international law enforcement cooperation through INTERPOL and other strategic partnerships to combat transnational crime and protect endangered wildlife.”