A routine anti-narcotics operation in Hong Kong’s To Kwa Wan district escalated violently last Thursday afternoon when an assailant wielding a cleaver injured three Customs and Excise Department officers. The shocking incident, which occurred around 5:09 p.m. at Honour Building on To Kwa Wan Road, left two officers hospitalized with significant wounds and triggered a massive city-wide manhunt for the suspect, who managed to evade capture. The attack underscores the unpredictable dangers faced by law enforcement during critical drug enforcement sweeps.
The incident unfolded as a team of customs officers moved to intercept an individual emerging from a targeted flat believed to be connected to drug activities. Upon being brought back inside the unit, the suspect allegedly grabbed a cleaver and suddenly attacked the officers before barricading himself within the premises. Specialist police units, including the Counter Terrorism Response Unit and the Emergency Unit, were rapidly deployed. However, upon forcing entry, authorities discovered the suspect had fled through a window and down an airwell. A suspected cleaver was later recovered nearby on a rear staircase.
Details of the Injuries and Manhunt
The three injured officers—all conscious upon transport to Queen Elizabeth Hospital—sustained varying degrees of injury from the sudden assault. A 29-year-old inspector suffered a four-centimeter laceration to the left knee, while a 42-year-old senior customs officer received two sizable cuts, approximately 10 centimeters long, on his right arm. A third officer, aged 36, sustained multiple wounds totaling around 10 centimeters across his right hand, left knee, and right leg. Online images, circulating shortly after the incident, depicted the seriousness of the attack, showing one officer receiving emergency first aid for heavy bleeding from a forearm injury.
Investigators quickly pieced together clues pointing toward the perpetrator. Preliminary findings suggest the flat was the suspect’s residence, and police believe a separate suspected drug storage site in the same district may be linked. Follow-up investigations by Customs and Police at a nearby mini-storage facility yielded a quantity of suspected narcotics. Furthermore, a vehicle believed to belong to the suspect was located at a nearby housing estate, with the keys and a wallet discovered inside.
The Kowloon West Regional Crime Unit Team 2 is currently leading the search for the male suspect, described as approximately 38 years old, standing around 1.75 to 1.8 meters tall, and last seen wearing a black T-shirt, green shorts, and black trainers.
Official Condemnation and Support
Following the attack, Customs and Excise Commissioner Chan Tsz-tat visited the injured officers at the hospital. He condemned the violence unequivocally, describing the event as highly unexpected and noting that despite having standard equipment such as firearms, handcuffs, and batons, the attack occurred too rapidly for officers to effectively deploy them to defend against the close-quarters attack with a blade.
Commissioner Chan affirmed the Department’s commitment to providing full support to the injured officers and promised close cooperation with the police to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice. Security Secretary Chris Tang also expressed deep concern regarding the incident and wished the wounded officers a rapid and complete recovery.
This brazen attack highlights the considerable risks involved in drug enforcement operations and necessitates ongoing vigilance and enhanced situational awareness training for officers operating in unpredictable environments. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the police immediately.