Police repatriate Chinese suspect over $245 million Ponzi scheme fraud

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Xu Qing, accused of orchestrating a $245 million Ponzi scheme fraud, back to his home country for prosecution.

The development was disclosed by the Nigeria Police Force on May 6 via its official X account, detailing the arrest and extradition carried out through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.

Police said the suspect had fled from China to Nigeria in a bid to evade arrest, but was later tracked down by authorities following an international warrant issued against him.

What they are saying

Authorities explained that the repatriation was initiated after a formal request from Chinese officials, who declared Xu Qing wanted for his alleged role in a massive financial fraud scheme valued at over $245 million.

• “The Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, has successfully arrested and repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Xu Qing, to the People’s Republic of China to face charges related to large-scale illegal absorption of public deposits through a Ponzi scheme.” 

The police further stated that, acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance, operatives tracked and arrested the suspect at a factory in Ogun State before facilitating his return to China through bilateral cooperation arrangements.

Get up to speed

The latest repatriation adds to a growing list of foreign nationals returned to their home countries over criminal activities linked to Nigeria.

• In October 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service, deported 192 foreign nationals convicted of cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and related offences in Lagos.

Those deported included citizens from China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste.

• Earlier in June, a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for internet fraud and cyber-terrorism.

The convicts, like the deported suspects, were part of a larger syndicate of 792 individuals arrested over alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud.

What you should know

Although Chinese nationals have featured prominently among foreign criminal suspects in Nigeria in recent years, the Asian country maintains strong economic ties with Nigeria.

• In February, the Federal Government announced plans to secure up to $5.7 billion in investments from China to boost key sectors such as power, mining, and manufacturing.
• More recently, the NNPC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Chinese firms to support the rehabilitation and expansion of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

The police reiterated that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for fugitives, while urging businesses to conduct proper background checks before engaging foreign nationals.