Report has revealed that China has “overseas police service stations” in more than 30 in the world, including Nigeria, with the aim of policing its nationals living abroad.
The report titled “110 Overseas: Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild,” which documented China’s efforts to prosecute its citizens who commit “fraud” in foreign countries, noted such police stations has already been opened in 22 countries in Europe, Americas, Africa, etc
Some of the police stations opened in Europe are located in places like London, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Athens, Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt.
While in North America, 3 stations are located inn Toronto and 1 in New York City.
The total number of such stations in 30 countries of the world is said to be 54.
The report noted that through these police stations, which established “combat the growing issue of fraud and telecommunication fraud by Chinese nationals living overseas,” China has been able to prosecute about 240,000 of its national who committed crimes abroad last year alone and. According to the report, the Chinese nationals arrested by the police stations operatives are usually “persuaded to return” to China “voluntarily” to face criminal prosecution.
The report also outlines the potential human rights abuses associated with the stations, including using harassment and intimidation methods, such as threatening the family members of the overseas citizens.
Some human rights groups have raised concerns over China’s actions especially the intimidation of Chinese nationals living by the operatives of the "Overseas Police Service Stations." The Safeguard Defenders Campaign Director Laura Harth on Monday said the number of secret police stations set up around the world by the Chinese government had been “growing” after 54 stations were initially uncovered in 30 countries.
The investigation by Safeguard Defenders says that while the overseas police service centres may help Chinese diaspora and tourists with everyday problems, they are part of a complex global web of surveillance and control, allowing the Communist Party to reach far beyond China’s borders.
“As these operations continue to develop, and new mechanisms are set up, it is evident that countries governed by the standards set by universal human rights and the rule of law urgently need to investigate these practices to identify the (local) actors at work, mitigate the risks and effectively protect the growing number of those targeted,” the report said.
In Nigeria, the Fuzhou-Run overseas police “Service Station” is said to be located in Benin City, Edo State.
According to report by Peoples Gazette, the Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, said he was not aware of the development.
The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters is yet to react to the development as efforts to reach Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Police Force were unsuccessful.