Hong Kong law enforcement officials have apprehended a principal suspect following a violent confrontation in which three Customs officers were slashed with a cleaver during an anti-drug operation in To Kwa Wan earlier this month. The incident, which occurred late afternoon on November 6th at an apartment complex, saw the officers sustain knife wounds to their hands and legs after the suspect allegedly resisted arrest and fled the scene. Police confirmed the initial capture of two individuals suspected of aiding the assailant’s escape, and later arrested the alleged attacker, whose identity and background are central to the ongoing investigation.
The operation began when a team of seven officers from the Customs and Excise Department’s Drug Investigation Bureau arrived at a unit in the Ting On Mansion on To Kwa Wan Road, acting on intelligence related to narcotics. At approximately 5 p.m., as officers attempted to intercept a 38-year-old male leaving the target premises and escort him back inside for a search, the situation rapidly escalated.
Drug Suspect Attacks Officers, Flees Scene
According to detailed accounts from law enforcement, the suspect, described as approximately 1.75 to 1.8 meters tall and well-built, abruptly became aggressive inside the apartment. He reportedly seized a 30-centimeter kitchen cleaver and used it to strike three of the officers, injuring them before barricading himself inside the unit. The wounded officers were subsequently rushed by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment, though officials have stated their injuries are stable and non-life-threatening. One officer reportedly sustained multiple 10-centimeter lacerations.
After the assault, the Customs team immediately called for police backup. Upon arrival, officers forced entry into the apartment, only to find it deserted. Investigators concluded the suspect had managed to open a kitchen window and escaped through the building’s utility shaft, fleeing toward Lok Shan Road. Initial reports suggested the assailant had left his keys and wallet behind.
Significant Drug Cache Recovered
The investigation, now spearheaded by the Regional Crime Unit, quickly broadened its scope. Hours after the attack, police detained two men in Mong Kok and Kowloon City suspected of orchestrating the assailant’s getaway from the immediate vicinity.
Further searches related to the drug operation uncovered a substantial quantity of illicit narcotics. Law enforcement personnel later searched a mini-storage facility in the same district, confirming the seizure of a large volume of drugs. Subsequent police announcements indicated the operation unit where the attack occurred contained controlled substances valued at approximately HK$1.84 million. The scale of the seizure underscores the significance of the initial anti-drug operation.
The complexities of the case deepened with the arrest of a third individual, the suspect’s mother, who was detained on suspicion of misleading officers. The latest development, confirming the capture of the primary 38-year-old suspect, marks a breakthrough in the manhunt, bringing the total number of arrests to four.
Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Chen Zida, strongly condemned the violent assault on his staff, emphasizing the resolve of the department to continue its duties despite the risks. “An attack on our officers is an attack on the rule of law,” a department spokesperson reiterated, highlighting the inherent danger faced by officers involved in tackling organized crime.
Police are expected to release comprehensive details regarding the arrest of the alleged assailant shortly, providing clarity on the timeline and circumstances of his capture. The case serves as a grim reminder of the volatile nature of police and customs operations targeting narcotics trade within dense urban environments. All arrested individuals now face multiple charges, including assault causing grievous bodily harm to law enforcement officers and drug trafficking offenses.
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