Lai Changxing signed a warrant for his arrest upon his arrival in Beijing one of the most wanted fugitives in China has come to Beijing before a Canadian court paved the way for his deportation.The repatriation of Lai Changxing marks the end of 12 years in a legal battle against his extradition.
The 52 year-old, who is accused in China of the departure of an operation's smuggling of billions of dollars, argued that he would be executed if returned.
China has assured Canada that they will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Canada, who do not practice the death penalty, prohibits the extradition of prisoners to countries where it can be executed.
Correspondents say that the case had soured diplomatic relations between the two countries.
'First suspect'Mr Lai was escorted by Canadian police in civilian flight from Vancouver and handed over to Chinese police on his arrival in Beijing.
State television showed what is reading their rights by a police officer before being taken into custody.
His return to China quickly followed the Court's decision in Canada to allow for their deportation.
"The life of the applicant is in the hands of the Chinese Government", the Court ruled, citing a Chinese proverb, Friday.
China accuses Mr Lai of running a huge smuggling in Fujian province operation in the early 1990s. They say it was up to $ donate for value products such as cigarettes, automobiles, oil heating and cooking, textiles, chemicals and other products.
Hundreds of senior members of the regional political class were involved in the case. China Xinhua News Agency, said that investigated more than 600 people, including officials from customs, police and the Government, and 300 were punished for their involvement in the operation. At least two staff members were executed.
Mr Lai fled with his family to Canada in 1999, but was denied asylum and has struggled to stay since then.
His lawyers had argued that at least seven of his colleagues have died or disappeared in the system of Justice of China. He said that he would face torture and execution in China as a scapegoat for high level officials who were involved in corrupt practices.
China is believed to carry out more executions annually than any other country, but in this case, has promised Canada that Mr Lai will receive a fair trial and did not face the death penalty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs China Friday "welcomed" sentence the Canadian court, describing Mr Lai as the "prime suspect" in the case of smuggling and saying that the Government had been very "clear" about his desire to put him to trial.
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