Police Arrest, Repatriate Chinese Who Fled to Nigeria Over ‘Tax Fraud’
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Chen Gaochong, wanted for tax fraud in China.
Gaochong, who had entered Nigeria illegally in 2021 after fleeing China, was apprehended in Lagos on June 24, 2025, by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja. He was handed over to Chinese authorities on July 3.
According to a statement by police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrest followed a request from Chinese police and was conducted in line with international law enforcement protocols.
“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,” the statement read. “He deliberately avoided renewing his international passport in an attempt to conceal his identity and evade arrest.”
Gaochong had been declared wanted by the Peixian Public Security Bureau of Jiangsu Province for allegedly issuing 45 fraudulent VAT invoices worth RMB 4.97 million between May and August 2017, using company names without their consent.
“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,” Adejobi stated.
He said the operation marked “a significant milestone in transnational police cooperation and the global fight against financial crime,” adding that Nigeria “remains committed to upholding global standards in transnational crime prevention.”
