Suspected Hong Kong drug smuggler dies after fight with police in wake of raid linked to alleged HK$100 million cocaine-trafficking ring
- Man, 57, with history of heart disease lost consciousness after struggle with officers; he was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead a day later
- Investigation into incident launched by New Territories North regional crime unit with report to be submitted to the Coroner’s Court
A Hong Kong drugs suspect has died in hospital a day after he resisted arrest outside his office as police cracked down on an alleged HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) cocaine-smuggling ring.
The 57-year-old – who had a history of heart trouble – was subdued by police, but later passed out and was rushed to hospital, a senior officer said on Thursday.
Acting chief superintendent Chan Kong-ming of the force’s narcotics bureau added that the man at first cooperated with officers when they raided his office in Ko Po Village, Yuen Long, on Wednesday, but became violent and attempted to flee in his car.
Chan added the man was subdued and then handcuffed in his vehicle.
“After we brought him under control, he was sitting in the car seat and nothing abnormal was seen,” Chan said. “But we found him unconscious about 20 minutes later.”
He added there was no information to suggest the man had any injuries before he put up a fight.
Officers at the scene gave first aid to the man before he was taken to Tuen Mun Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit.
But he was declared dead at 11.48am on Thursday.
Three officers who scuffled with him suffered minor injuries.
Chan said the New Territories North regional crime unit would investigate the death and submit a report to the Coroner’s Court.
He did not not comment further on the incident or the officers’ actions because of the investigation.
Hong Kong customs seizes drugs worth HK$4.4 billion in first 11 months of year
The suspect was alleged to have been responsible for the transport and storage of 100kg (220lbs) of cocaine.
About HK$790,000 (US$101,000) in cash and what were said to be notes about the drugs shipment were seized from his car and office.
Chan said the man had a history of heart problems, and that a spray used to treat symptoms of angina was also found in the car.
The three officers injured during the struggle were treated at Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long and later released.
A 75-year-old woman alleged to be the leader of the drug-smuggling ring and two other men were also arrested elsewhere in the city on Wednesday as part of a joint police and customs operation launched last month.
The woman was taken into custody at a home in Mong Kok and the two men, aged 52 and 59, were detained at a storage unit in the Ping Che area of Fanling.
Hong Kong customs seizes 6 tonnes of drugs in 11 months, most in 20 years
The arrests came after intelligence reports led the agencies to monitor a shipping container declared to be carrying more than 500 bags of fish flour from South America.
The container arrived in the city on January 16 and was taken to customs facilities in Kwai Chung for examination, Alex Wong Kei-cheung of the cargo research division said.
He added that abnormal X-ray images of three of the 520 bags of fish flour led customs officers to carry out tests, which confirmed they contained cocaine.
Wong said the drugs were found mixed in with the fish flour in the three bags, which weighed a total of 150kg.
The woman and two men are expected to appear at Fanling Court on Friday charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs.
Chan said the force did not rule out the possibility of further arrests.
