Nigeria Police Capture Chinese Fugitive Over Wildlife Trafficking Allegations

Posted by Chinenye on Thu 30th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng

A long-running international manhunt has come to an end after security operatives tracked down a wanted suspect hiding thousands of miles from where the allegations began.

(Cai Jinlian With The INTERPOL. Photo by Nigeria Police Force)

Cai Jinlian, a 42-year-old Chinese fugitive, was successfully apprehended and returned to the People's Republic of China by the Nigeria Police Force via the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, to face accusations related to the trafficking of endangered animals.

After investigations by the Anti-Smuggling Sub Bureau of Wenzhou Customs, Jinlian is wanted for smuggling almost 12 tonnes of tree pangolin scales from Nigeria into China in two shipments between November 2018 and April 2019. In December 2020, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court of Zhejiang Province found his two accomplices guilty and sentenced them to more than 14 years in jail.

A Chinese fugitive wanted over wildlife tr@fficking has been repatriated to Shanghai after being arrested in Abuja by operatives of INTERPOL's National Central Bureau.

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, 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 tr@fficking and other transnational organised 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.