The Hanoi People's Court on July 30 tried Truong Van Ngo, born in 1991 and from Nghe An Province, on a charge of illegal transportation of narcotic substances.

Drugs concealed inside bicycle tires

According to the investigation, on the afternoon of October 22, 2025, police and customs officers intercepted 21 cardboard boxes containing 21 bicycles on Phan Trong Tue Road in Dai Thanh Commune, Hanoi.

Investigators discovered large quantities of narcotics hidden inside the bicycles' inner tubes, including 21,532.02 grams of MDMA and 29,161.69 grams of ketamine.

Ngo and another man, Nguyen Van V., who were standing near the shipment, were taken into custody for questioning.

Communication through Signal

Investigators said Ngo became acquainted through social contacts with a man identified only as Toan, who communicated using the Signal account "Mommom."

Beginning around April 2025, Toan allegedly hired Ngo to transport drugs in exchange for a monthly payment of VND30 million (US$1,150).

Toan instructed Ngo to coordinate with another contact identified as Thai, who used the Signal account "Meo Hoang" (Wild Cat), to receive narcotics.

According to prosecutors, the drugs were primarily handed over in what were formerly Nam Dan and Do Luong districts in Nghe An Province before being transported to other locations as directed by Toan.

In addition to his monthly salary, Ngo received VND1 million (US$38) for each day spent delivering drugs.

Because he did not have a driver's license, Ngo hired Nguyen Van V. as his driver for VND10 million (US$385) per month.

Whenever a delivery was required, Ngo instructed V. to rent a vehicle and drive him to destinations including Da Nang, Hai Phong and Hanoi.

V. told investigators he believed they were delivering "marked playing cards" and said Ngo always handled the handover himself while instructing him to wait elsewhere.

Final shipment intercepted

At around 3 a.m. on October 22, 2025, Toan allegedly instructed Ngo via Signal to travel to Hanoi to collect a shipment concealed inside boxes containing bicycles.

After arriving at the designated address on Phan Trong Tue Road, Ngo sent his location to Toan and waited for a truck carrying the shipment.

Police arrested Ngo while he was loading the cardboard boxes onto a three-wheeled vehicle for transport.

Investigation into the alleged kingpin continues

Investigators said they were unable to identify or locate Toan because Ngo could provide only limited information about him. As a result, no legal action has yet been taken against the alleged organizer.

Authorities determined that the shipment had been sent by air from Berlin, Germany, with narcotics concealed inside the bicycles' inner tubes.

Ngo admitted receiving and transporting drugs on multiple occasions on Toan's behalf after shipments arrived from overseas in Da Nang, Hai Phong and Hanoi.

However, investigators said the evidence only established Ngo's responsibility for transporting 50,693.71 grams of narcotics.

After considering the evidence, the court sentenced Ngo to life imprisonment for illegal transportation of narcotic substances.

 
 T. Nhung