Hong Kong police apprehended a 38-year-old man in Yuen Long early Tuesday, concluding a six-day manhunt following a violent assault on customs officers during an anti-narcotics operation in To Kwa Wan. The suspect, identified by the surname Wu, allegedly used a kitchen knife to wound three officers attempting to search his apartment last week, before escaping through a kitchen window.
The arrest of Mr. Wu brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case to five, including his mother and three associates, all suspected of assisting with his evasion. Mr. Wu faces multiple serious charges, including wounding, trafficking in dangerous drugs, possession of imitation firearms, and possession of offensive weapons.
Violent Attack During Drug Raid
The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. on June 6, when seven officers from the Customs Drug Investigation Bureau arrived at an apartment in Tai On Building on To Kwa Wan Road to execute a search warrant. Officers intercepted Mr. Wu as he was reportedly leaving the target unit and attempted to escort him inside for the search.
According to police accounts, Mr. Wu suddenly resisted, allegedly retrieving a 30-centimeter kitchen knife from the unit’s kitchen. He reportedly slashed three customs officers, causing bleeding injuries to their hands and legs, before barricading himself inside the apartment. The injured officers were transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment, where their conditions were later stabilized.
As police reinforcements arrived, they breached the apartment door only to find the unit empty. Investigators determined the suspect had climbed out the kitchen window, escaping via an air shaft and fleeing toward Lok Shan Road.
Cartel Ties and Substantial Drug Seizure
Inside the raided apartment, investigators discovered a significant cache of contraband, including a blood-stained knife in the hallway. The haul included approximately 3.28 kilograms of heroin, 40 grams of ketamine, and 15 grams of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of around HK$1.84 million (approximately US$235,000). Police also recovered several weapons, including five air rifles and a crossbow.
Acting Senior Superintendent Justin Jia Kam-lam of the West Kowloon Regional Crime Headquarters confirmed that Mr. Wu had sequentially hidden in Sai Kung, Hung Shui Kiu, and finally Yuen Long before the capture.
Police investigations have uncovered evidence suggesting the suspects are part of an organized syndicate with triad connections.
Network of Accomplices Arrested
The extensive police investigation quickly turned focus to those who may have aided Mr. Wu’s disappearance. In the days following the attack, four individuals—three men and one woman—were arrested for allegedly assisting a criminal.
The support network arrests include a 41-year-old taxi driver, surnamed Yiu, who was intercepted on Nathan Road after police traced a private vehicle believed to have transported Mr. Wu to Tai Po shortly after the incident. Mr. Yiu was formally charged with assisting an offender earlier this week. Another 27-year-old man was also subsequently apprehended.
Furthermore, Mr. Wu’s 61-year-old mother was arrested on suspicion of misleading police officers after her statements regarding her son’s whereabouts were deemed suspicious, highlighting the lengths to which associates allegedly went to facilitate the fugitive’s escape.
This case underscores the inherent dangers faced by officers engaged in high-risk narcotics operations and highlights the Hong Kong authorities’ swift and concerted effort to dismantle criminal networks and prosecute those who aid them. All five arrested individuals remain in custody as the investigation progresses.
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