By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Mr Chen Gaochong, wanted for tax fraud in his home country for over six years.
Gaochong, who was declared wanted by authorities in Jiangsu Province, China, for allegedly issuing fraudulent Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices worth RMB 4,974,400, was apprehended in Lagos on Tuesday, 24th June 2025, through a coordinated operation by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja in collaboration with Chinese law enforcement agencies.
Police spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Gaochong had been on the run since November 2019. According to Adejobi, investigations by the Peixian Public Security Bureau, which commenced on 5th March 2020, revealed that between May and August 2017, Gaochong issued 45 fictitious VAT invoices while disguising his activities as legitimate business operations.
“He operated using two companies—Linhai Guangyong Plastic Products Co., Ltd. and Linhai Beilaisi Plastic Products Co., Ltd.—to issue invoices fraudulently to Xuzhou Wanfeng Plastic Industry Co., Ltd., without the knowledge or consent of the firms involved,” Adejobi stated.
The suspect reportedly fled Mainland China via the Shenzhen Bay port to Hong Kong on 16th November 2019. Following the exposure of the scheme, an arrest warrant was issued for him on 9th July 2020. He later escaped to Burkina Faso before entering Nigeria illegally in 2021, where he avoided detection by deliberately failing to renew his international passport.
Upon receiving a formal extradition request from the Chinese authorities, INTERPOL NCB Abuja launched a covert operation that successfully located and apprehended Gaochong in Lagos. He was handed over to Chinese officials on Thursday, 3rd July 2025, following due diplomatic procedures under international law enforcement agreements.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding global standards in transnational crime prevention.
“Nigeria will not serve as a haven for international fugitives. The Force remains committed to strengthening its cooperation with international law enforcement agencies to combat crime and criminality across borders,” Egbetokun affirmed.
