Fugitive Repatriated to China after 12 Years at Large

Smuggling suspect and fugitive Lai Changxing who fled the country in 1999 was deported from Canada to China on July 23. He was handed over to Chinese police at the Capital Airport, and taken into custody after an officer read him his rights. Lai masterminded smuggling operations involving large volumes of petroleum, cooking oil, automobiles and cigarettes, among other goods, during the years from 1996 to 1999, causing tremendous losses to the state. A criminal investigation was launched against him in April 1999, and he slipped into Canada through Hong Kong four months later, where he subsequently petitioned for asylum. A Canadian judge upheld his extradition in July, calling him a "common criminal," and ending his legal fight to stay in the country.