Suspect in $100m drug-trafficking case dies of cardiac arrest after car chase

A 57-year-old suspect - who was allegedly involved in a drug trafficking case valued at HK$100 million - is believed to have died of cardiac arrest, police said.

The incident occurred following a car chase with the police on Wednesday.

Chan Kong-ming, the acting chief superintendent of the police's narcotics bureau, provided details of the operation.

Chan said officers intercepted the suspect outside a tin-sheeted house in Ko Po Tsuen, Pat Heung, Yuen Long.

"The deceased suspect was responsible for organizing the collection of drugs, dividing them into batches for transportation and managing their storage," he said.

He added the police confiscated HK$790,000 in cash, papers suspected to contain evidence of drug trafficking, as well as a mobile phone believed to be used for coordinating transportation.

Initially, the suspect appeared to cooperate with the officers. However, as they began searching his car, he suddenly resisted and made a vigorous attempt to drive away. "Three of our officers therefore had to use handcuffs to subdue him. The three officers also sustained minor injuries in the process," Chan said.

However, 20 minutes after subduing the man, the suspect suddenly lost consciousness and police officers at the scene immediately called for backup and started resuscitating him.

The officers and the suspect were taken to Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment where the three officers were allowed to leave after treatment. The suspect, meanwhile, was admitted to the intensive care unit but was certified dead at 11.48am yesterday.

Preliminary investigation indicated the suspect suffered from heart disease as they found in his car a canister of medicine spray used to relieve angina.

The suspect was alleged to be a key member of the drug-trafficking syndicate of four - which also included two men aged 52 and 59, and a 75-year-old alleged female mastermind. All of them claimed to be unemployed.

They were arrested in Sheung Shui, Yuen Long and Mong Kok on Tuesday for conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs.

Chan said officers were tipped off that someone was attempting to import a container from South America to disguise drugs among 500 packs of fishmeal.

Police and Customs officers seized around 100 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with a market value of about HK$100 million, in the container from South America.

The case has been followed by the New Territories North Regional crime unit. Police added the investigation is ongoing and didn't rule out the possibility of further arrest.

The other two men and one woman arrested were charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs and will be mentioned before Fanling Magistrates' Court this morning.