Nigeria police have arrested a Chinese fugitive wanted for a $245 million Ponzi scheme, who was found hiding in a factory in Ogun State. The operation was coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja.
Arrest and Repatriation
Xu Qing, accused of running a large-scale Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of over $245 million in China, fled his home country on November 5, 2024, and arrived in Nigeria to evade arrest. A warrant was issued on November 12, 2025, by the Shinan Sub-Bureau of Qingdao Public Security, leading to a formal extradition request through INTERPOL channels.
On April 24, 2026, Nigerian police operatives tracked Xu Qing to a factory in Olowotedo, Siun Village, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, where he had been living discreetly. He was arrested and repatriated to China four days later, on April 28, 2026.
Police Statement
The Nigeria Police Force announced the operation on May 6, highlighting it as a demonstration of its commitment to international law enforcement cooperation and a signal that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for foreign fugitives. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu warned Nigerian employers and businesses to conduct background checks through the police before engaging foreign nationals in any capacity.
This advisory reflects growing concerns within law enforcement about foreign nationals with criminal records embedding themselves in legitimate businesses across the country.
Broader Implications
The case is part of a series of cross-border operations coordinated through INTERPOL, with Nigeria increasingly demonstrating its reliability as an international partner in combating transnational crime. It also raises questions about how Xu Qing remained undetected for over a year, from his arrival in November 2024 to his arrest in April 2026, a gap not addressed in the police statement.
The operation was driven by the Chinese extradition request, sustained surveillance by INTERPOL NCB Abuja, and bilateral cooperation that ultimately returned the suspect to face justice in China.
