Nigeria Police Arrest, Repatriate Chinese Fugitive Over Tax Fraud

T The Nigeria Police Force, in a major demonstration of international cooperation, has arrested and repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Mr. Chen Gaochong, to the People’s Republic of China. The arrest was carried out through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, in collaboration with Chinese police authorities and in line with international law enforcement protocols.

“This strategic operation marks a significant milestone in transnational police cooperation and the global fight against financial crime,” the Force noted in an official statement.

Mr. Chen Gaochong had been declared wanted by the Peixian Public Security Bureau of Jiangsu Province, China, over serious tax fraud charges. He was accused of unlawfully issuing 45 special Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices totalling RMB 4,974,400 between May and August 2017. These invoices, issued to Xuzhou Wanfeng Plastic Industry Co., Ltd., were fraudulently generated using the names of Linhai Guangyong Plastic Products Co., Ltd. and Linhai Beilaisi Plastic Products Co., Ltd., without the companies' knowledge or consent.

The initial investigation by Chinese authorities began on March 5, 2020, and an arrest warrant was issued on July 9, 2020. However, Mr. Chen fled Mainland China on November 16, 2019, through the Shenzhen Bay port to Hong Kong. He subsequently made his way to Burkina Faso and later entered Nigeria illegally in 2021, purposefully avoiding the renewal of his international passport to conceal his identity.

Upon receiving a formal request from Chinese law enforcement, INTERPOL NCB Abuja launched covert intelligence operations, culminating in Mr. Chen's arrest in Lagos on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

The Nigeria Police Force emphasized that the successful operation is a testament to its commitment to upholding international legal standards and strengthening global law enforcement collaboration.