Racing driver Anson Wong revealed as Hong Kong man who died after struggle with police probing alleged HK$100 million cocaine smuggling ring
- Wong, who drove for Macau’s Son Veng racing team, died in hospital day after he passed out following struggle with police
- He competed in Macau Grand Prix and was champion in 2019 Pan Delta Super Racing Festival
A man who died a day after he resisted arrest by Hong Kong police over an alleged HK$100 million (US$12.79 million) cocaine smuggling ring was city racing driver Anson Wong Kwai-wah, the Post has learned.
Wong, 57, who had a history of heart disease, died in hospital last Thursday, a day after he passed out following a struggle with police as he was being taken into custody.
The driver took part in the Macau Grand Prix with the gambling hub’s Son Veng racing team. Wong was champion in the 2019 Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, the team’s Facebook page said.
He also appeared in team pictures at the Macau Grand Prix in 2022.
Wong was suspected to have been responsible for the transport and storage of 100kg (220lbs) of cocaine.
Police earlier said that Wong was at first cooperative when he was arrested in his office in Ko Po Village, Yuen Long, on Wednesday.
Officers had seized about HK$790,000 in cash and what were said to be notes about the drugs shipment from his office as part of a joint police and customs investigation.
Hong Kong customs seizes drugs worth HK$4.4 billion in first 11 months of year
But Wong became violent and attempted to flee by car soon after he was detained. He was found unconscious 20 minutes after officers subdued him.
Wong was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit, but was declared dead at 11.48am on Thursday.
The New Territories North regional crime unit will investigate the circumstances of the death and submit a report to the Coroner’s Court.
Alleged drug smuggler dies after fight with Hong Kong police following office raid
A 75-year-old woman alleged to be the leader of the drug-smuggling syndicate, as well as two other men, were also detained as part of the police operation.
The arrests came after intelligence reports led the agencies to monitor a shipping container declared to be carrying 520 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.
The drugs were found mixed in with the fish flour in three of the bags, which weighed a total of 150kg.
