Driver sentenced to prison for hiding drugs in steering wheel.

According to the indictment, at approximately 6:30 PM on July 18, 2018, Son was driving a 16-seater passenger van with license plate 61A 039.26, transporting passengers to the area near Kilometer 0 in Block 2, Tan Ky town. A male passenger on the van took out a package of heroin and asked Son if he used heroin, to which Son agreed. Son then wrapped the remaining heroin in a piece of white paper and hid it in the steering wheel cover of the van. Son drove the van to the Tan Ky District Bus Station area, where the young man got off the vehicle.

Defendant Nguyen Trong Son in court. Photo: Phuong Hao

At approximately 9:30 PM on July 19, 2018, Son was driving his car home to Nghia Phuc commune, Tan Ky district. When he arrived in front of Truong Son Hotel in Block 8, Tan Ky town, Tan Ky district, he encountered a man he knew from before but did not know his name or address.

During the conversation, the man gave Son 800,000 VND to buy drugs for them to use together, and Son agreed. After buying the drugs, Son hid the package in the steering wheel cover of his car and drove to the Truong Son Hotel area. Upon arriving at Block 2, Tan Ky town, Tan Ky district, the Tan Ky District Police task force signaled him to stop for inspection.

During the inspection, the task force discovered two small packages suspected to contain heroin and synthetic drugs hidden inside the steering wheel cover of the car. The Tan Ky District Police task force then drew up a report, arrested the suspects in the act, and sealed the evidence.

The forensic examination report No. 956/KL-PC54 (MT) dated July 21, 2018, from the Criminal Technical Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police concluded that both small packages seized from Son contained narcotics with a total weight of 0.17 grams.

At the end of the trial, the panel of judges sentenced Nguyen Trong Son to 14 months in prison.