Manhunt on for Hongkonger who drove BMW with illegal cigarettes into wall after 3km chase
Driver jumped out of white BMW and fled on foot after collision, police say
A manhunt is under way for the driver of a BMW who led Hong Kong police on a high-speed 3km (2 mile) chase before crashing the vehicle that had thousands of untaxed cigarettes into a car park in Kowloon.
The force said on Monday the driver, believed to be in his 40s, jumped out of the white car after the collision and fled on foot, adding that he left behind a 46-year-old man in the vehicle.
The passenger was arrested on suspicion of possessing contraband tobacco products after 5,440 untaxed cigarettes worth HK$26,650 (US$3,418) were discovered in the vehicle.
In Hong Kong, anyone convicted of the sale, handling, purchase or possession of illicit cigarettes faces a maximum fine of HK$1 million and two years behind bars under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
The pursuit started on Nathan Road near the junction with Shantung Street in the bustling district of Mong Kok at around 9.45pm on Sunday after a police vehicle equipped with number-plate recognition technology detected that the licence of the white BMW had expired.
Officers from the Kowloon West traffic unit approached the BMW driver and signalled for him to pull over, according to police.