The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Chen Gaochong, who had been on the run for tax fraud-related offences amounting to about five million Chinese Yuan.
Gaochong was apprehended in Lagos on June 24, 2025, through a covert operation coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, in close collaboration with Chinese law enforcement authorities.
He was subsequently handed over to officials from the People’s Republic of China on July 3, 2025.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the fugitive was wanted by the Peixian Public Security Bureau of Jiangsu Province for fraudulently issuing 45 special Value Added Tax invoices totalling RMB 4,974,400 between May and August 2017.
Adejobi said the fake transactions were made under the guise of legitimate business dealings and involved the unauthorised use of two Chinese companies’ identities—Linhai Guangyong Plastic Products Co., Ltd. and Linhai Beilaisi Plastic Products Co., Ltd.
“Following the discovery of his criminal activities, Chen Gaochong fled Mainland China on 16th November 2019 through the Shenzhen Bay port to Hong Kong, and later escaped to Burkina Faso before illegally entering Nigeria in 2021.
“He deliberately avoided renewing his international passport in an attempt to conceal his identity and evade arrest. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued by the Peixian Public Security Bureau on 9th July 2020 for his detention on suspicion of tax-related offences, ” Adejobi added.
He said a formal arrest warrant was issued by Chinese authorities on July 9, 2020, prompting a request for assistance through INTERPOL.
Adejobi noted that the Nigeria Police launched a targeted intelligence operation, which led to the fugitive’s eventual arrest and extradition.
He said, “Upon receipt of a formal request for assistance from Chinese authorities, INTERPOL NCB Abuja commenced covert intelligence operations, leading to the successful tracing and arrest of the fugitive in Lagos on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. In the spirit of international law enforcement cooperation and mutual legal assistance, Mr. Chen Gaochong was repatriated and formally handed over to Chinese authorities on Thursday, July 3, 2025.”
Describing the operation as a major milestone in international law enforcement collaboration, he reaffirmed the police’s commitment to ensuring the country does not become a safe haven for fugitives.
“The Force remains committed to upholding global standards in transnational crime prevention and will continue to strengthen its collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to combat crime and criminality”, he said.
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