A suspect linked to a HK$7 million (US$893,200) gold robbery at Hong Kong International Airport has been arrested after crashing his car inside Tate’s Cairn Tunnel.
The 21-year-old man was driving a private car towards Sha Tin around 3am on Tuesday when he crashed into an oncoming vehicle.
Police discovered around 66 grams of suspected cocaine, five e-cigarette cartridges suspected to contain etomidate, and drug paraphernalia on the driver and inside the vehicle, with the illicit haul valued at roughly HK$70,000.
The driver injured his leg but refused hospital treatment and was arrested at the scene.
The crash also injured two occupants in the other car. A 54‑year‑old driver suffered head, neck, waist and leg pain, while his 37‑year‑old passenger complained of waist and leg pain. Both were conscious and taken to Prince of Wales Hospital.
Investigators identified the suspect as one of the key figures in the June 18 gold robbery at the airport.
In that attack, a 36-year-old courier transporting gold from Indonesia to Hong Kong for a mainland Chinese businessman was ambushed shortly after midnight in Car Park 3 on Sky Plaza Road Central.
Three to four masked men armed with knives slashed the victim’s left hand and leg before fleeing with a backpack containing six gold bars weighing about 6kg (13.2lbs). The courier was taken to hospital after the attack.
Following suspicions that the robbery was an inside job, police collaborated with mainland authorities and arrested planners, robbers and accomplices.
Including the latest suspect, 18 people aged 17 to 49 have been arrested in connection with the case, with 17 already charged with conspiracy to commit robbery or related offences.
The suspect faces six charges: conspiracy to commit robbery, trafficking in dangerous drugs, taking a conveyance without authority, driving without a licence, driving without third‑party insurance, and careless driving.
He is scheduled to appear in Kowloon City Court on Wednesday morning. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
