A suspect wanted by Taiwan police for robbing an armored bank delivery vehicle has been captured by mainland police, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Friday afternoon.

Li Hanyang, who worked as an armored vehicle driver in Taipei, stole 56 million New Taiwan dollars (US$1.75 million) after drugging a colleague in the van on Jan. 2, before flying to Hong Kong.

Mainland authorities were informed on Jan. 5 that Li had arrived on the mainland. Police arrested him in Yunnan on Jan. 9 in the company of his brother, who lives on the mainland.

The mainland police will soon send Li and his brother back to Taiwan in line with an agreement.

According to the ministry, Li's van was carrying 79.2 million New Taiwan dollars to a bank on Jan. 2. On the way, Li drugged the colleague, transferred 56 million New Taiwan dollars to another car and then drove to the Taoyuan International Airport.

On his way to the airport, Li gave the money to a man and then flew to Hong Kong with 200,000 New Taiwan dollars.

On Jan. 5, the police in Guangdong Province was informed that Li had crossed the border into Guangdong to meet his brother Li Jinzan. The two then fled to Kunming and hid in an apartment.

Li confessed to the police and his brother was charged for assisting him to escape police custody.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)