Police seized about HK$200,000 worth of suspected illegal drugs from a light goods vehicle near Fanling Golf Course early Friday morning after the driver fled when officers approached for a routine inspection.
The 46 year old driver, identified by police by his surname Tang, was arrested on suspicion of trafficking in dangerous drugs following the incident on Fan Kam Road.
Officers from the New Territories North Emergency Unit were conducting a patrol at about 1am when they noticed the suspicious vehicle travelling along the road. They moved in to carry out a check, but the driver abruptly left the van and ran from the scene.
The officers immediately pursued him on foot.
The chase ended shortly afterwards when Tang stumbled and fell. Police caught up with him and subdued him at the scene.
Tang suffered minor injuries to his arms and legs during the fall but remained conscious. An ambulance took him to North District Hospital for medical treatment.
Drugs found inside the van
The search of the vehicle produced several types of suspected dangerous drugs.
Police recovered approximately 861.5 grams of suspected herbal cannabis, making it the largest quantity found in the vehicle. Officers also seized about 288 grams of suspected cannabis cookies.
Smaller quantities of suspected cocaine and heroin were also found. The haul included approximately 5 grams of suspected cocaine and 6.5 grams of suspected heroin.
Taken together, police estimated the value of the suspected drugs at about HK$200,000.
The variety of substances found inside the vehicle has become a focus of the investigation as detectives examine how the drugs were being transported and whether the van had been used to deliver narcotics directly to customers.
Following a preliminary investigation, police formally arrested Tang on suspicion of trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The case has now been transferred to the eighth team of the Tai Po District Criminal Investigation Team for further investigation.
Investigation turns to source of drugs
Detectives are examining where the suspected drugs came from and where they were allegedly intended to go.
Investigators are also looking into whether the vehicle was being used as a mobile distribution point. The presence of several different types of suspected drugs has prompted police to examine whether the van was connected to a wider supply network rather than being used for a single delivery.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Police have not disclosed whether Tang was allegedly carrying the drugs for himself or acting on behalf of other people. Detectives will also seek to establish how long the vehicle had been used and whether it had previously travelled to other locations as part of suspected drug distribution activity.
Further arrests have not been ruled out.
Foot chase follows routine patrol
The incident began as a routine patrol rather than a planned drug operation, according to the information released by police.
The officers spotted the light goods vehicle while travelling along Fan Kam Road at about 1am. The decision by the driver to abandon the vehicle and run when officers approached led to the foot chase and subsequent arrest.
The vehicle then became the centre of the police investigation.
Officers searched the van after securing the suspect and discovered the suspected narcotics stored inside. The quantities recovered included both drugs in plant form and processed products, such as cannabis cookies, as well as cocaine and heroin.
The discovery means investigators now have several lines of inquiry to pursue. They must determine the ownership and history of the vehicle, establish who had access to it and trace the suspected drugs back to their source.
They will also examine communications and other evidence that could indicate whether Tang was working alone or had contact with other people involved in the alleged supply of dangerous drugs.
Suspected trafficking carries serious consequences
Hong Kong treats trafficking in dangerous drugs as a serious criminal offence. The investigation will therefore focus not only on the drugs recovered but also on evidence that could establish their intended purpose.
The distinction between possession and trafficking can depend on the circumstances and evidence gathered by investigators. The quantity and type of drugs, packaging, communications, financial records and other material can all become relevant as police build a case.
At this stage, however, police have announced an arrest and suspicion of trafficking rather than a conviction. Tang has not been found guilty of any offence.
The immediate medical treatment following his fall also forms part of the sequence of events. Police said he suffered minor injuries to his arms and legs but remained conscious before being taken to North District Hospital.
Meanwhile, detectives from the Tai Po District Criminal Investigation Team are continuing to examine the suspected drug haul and the vehicle.
The next stage of the investigation will centre on tracing the drugs, identifying any intended recipients and determining whether other people were involved in moving or distributing them. Police have said further arrests remain possible as those inquiries continue.
For investigators, the seized van may provide the first link in a wider chain. Establishing who supplied the drugs and where they were supposed to go will determine whether the early morning arrest near Fanling Golf Course leads to a broader investigation into suspected drug distribution in the area.