On 3/2, 34-year-old Thuy, residing in Quynh Son commune, was criminally detained by the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command Board for investigation into illegal cross-border goods transportation.

Suspect Thuy (right) with evidence at the investigative agency. Photo: Hai Thuong.

Earlier, around 10:20 on 2/2, as Thuy was completing immigration procedures from Laos to Vietnam at Thanh Thuy border gate in Kim Bang commune (formerly Thanh Chuong district), Nghe An Border Guard, in collaboration with border customs, inspected his Nghe An-registered pickup truck on suspicion of carrying prohibited goods.

During the search, authorities discovered seven 'cay' of gold (approximately 263,16 grams) hidden in a cloth bag inside the vehicle's engine air filter box.

The pickup truck's air filter box, opened by Thuy, revealing seven 'cay' of gold inside. Photo: Hung Le.

Thuy confessed that the gold was sifted during sand mining operations in Laos, then cast into pieces and hidden in a discreet part of the vehicle for illegal transport to Vietnam for sale and profit.

Duc Hung