Authorities in the UAE arrested and extradited a high-profile suspect to China who was wanted for running an organised criminal network, the country's Ministry of Interior said on Thursday (August 14).

The suspect, considered to be "one of the most wanted individuals by Chinese authorities," was arrested by Dubai Police under a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol).

The suspect faces major criminal charges, including running an organised criminal network that operated fraudulent gambling sites worth millions of dollars.

Following the arrest and extradition of the suspect, Chinese authorities praised the swift action taken by the UAE Ministry of Interior, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in tackling cross-border crime.

This successful operation comes in the wake of landmark legal agreements signed in May 2002 between the UAE and China, covering extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The agreements, which officially came into effect in May 2004, were signed by Sheikh Abdullah Rashid Al Nu'aimi, Foreign Ministry Under Secretary, and Zhang Zhijun, Chinese Ambassador.

The latest arrest and extradition adds to the UAE’s growing record of successful international law enforcement cooperation.

On July 13, the Dubai Police arrested and extradited three Belgian nationals wanted in connection with serious cross-border organised crime case.

The suspects — Matthias Akyazili, Georgi Faes, and Othman El Ballouti — are listed under the most-wanted category by both the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).

In June 2025, the UAE arrested Vitaliy Pirlog, a Moldovan national and former Interpol Commission member, wanted by French authorities on corruption, fraud, and bribery charges.

In May 2025, an alleged top member of an Irish transnational gang was charged in Dublin with murder and directing organised crime after his extradition from the UAE.

Sean McGovern, 39, who was arrested at his Dubai home in October last year, had been described by Irish police as the right-hand man of Irish cartel boss Daniel Kinahan.

McGovern, who had been living in Dubai for several years, is the first Kinahan cartel member to be arrested in Dubai, and is the first person ever extradited to Ireland from the UAE.