The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), via the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has arrested and repatriated Chinese national Xu Qing to the People’s Republic of China on accusations of participating in a Ponzi scheme valued at roughly $245 million.
Chinese authorities had earlier declared Xu a wanted suspect in connection with the illegal absorption of public deposits through a large‑scale financial fraud operation. After a formal request from Beijing, the NPF carried out the extradition under bilateral police‑cooperation arrangements.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Okon Placid, the alleged fraud exceeded $245 million. Xu fled China on 5 November 2024, seeking refuge in Nigeria as investigations in his home country intensified. A Chinese arrest warrant was issued on 12 November 2025 by the Shinan Sub‑Bureau of Qingdao Public Security.
INTERPOL NCB Abuja, acting on intelligence reports and sustained surveillance, located Xu at a factory in Olowotedo, Siun Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State. He was apprehended on 24 April 2026 and transferred to Chinese custody on 28 April 2026.
The suspect will now face prosecution in China for the alleged offences. Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu praised the operation, emphasizing the force’s commitment to international collaboration in fighting transnational organised crime. He also urged Nigerian employers and business entities to conduct thorough background checks on foreign nationals, recommending verification through relevant security and law‑enforcement agencies.
“This reinforces Nigeria’s resolve not to become a safe haven for fugitives,” the police statement read.
The successful arrest and repatriation highlight the growing coordination between Nigerian law‑enforcement agencies and international partners in tracking fugitives and combating cross‑border financial crimes. Further details on the case are expected to emerge from Chinese judicial proceedings.
