Nigerian police arrest and repatriate Chinese fugitive wanted for $245 million Ponzi scheme

The Nigerian Police Force has arrested and extradited a Chinese fugitive for running a Ponzi scheme estimated at $245 million, marking a significant win for international law enforcement cooperation.

Xu Qing, the suspect, was apprehended at a factory in Olowotedo, Siun Village, within the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on April 24, 2026. The operation was carried out by INTERPOL operatives from the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.

He was repatriated to China just four days later, on April 28, through arrangements made for bilateral police cooperation.

Chinese authorities officially requested his arrest after declaring him wanted in Beijing for unlawfully soliciting public deposits through a large-scale Ponzi scheme. An arrest warrant was issued on November 12, 2025, by the Shinan Sub-Bureau of the Qingdao Public Security Bureau.

Xu Qing reportedly fled China to Nigeria on November 5, 2024, days before a warrant was issued for his arrest, in what appears to be an attempt to evade prosecution. He spent several months quietly operating out of a factory in Ogun State. However, Nigerian police, acting on intelligence gathered through surveillance operations, were able to track him down.

He has now been returned to China to face prosecution for the offences.

Police reaffirm crackdown on foreign fugitives, urge stricter background checks

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu used the occasion to reaffirm the Force’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime.

He also issued a direct warning to Nigerian businesses and employers: conduct thorough background checks, including police verification, before hiring or engaging in business relationships with foreign nationals.

“Nigeria does not serve as a safe haven for fugitives,” the Force said in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer DCP Anthony Placid.

The arrest reflects growing coordination between Nigerian and Chinese law enforcement on financial crime and signals that Nigeria is actively cooperating with international partners to ensure that its territory cannot be used as a refuge by those fleeing justice elsewhere.

Also read: Fraud, AI, and the trust gap: Why detection alone isn’t enough