On February 16, 2017, at approximately 3:00 PM, a drinks stall owner near the 280 dual carriageway in Kim Dao village, Thua town (Luong Tai, Bac Ninh) discovered a semi-trailer truck parked there for several days without a driver. Suspecting something was wrong, he and other drivers climbed in to check and were shocked to find a male body tied up in the sleeper berth behind the cabin. The truck driver murder and theft of over 34 tons of steel was immediately reported to the police.
The Horrific Crime Scene
Upon receiving the report, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Bac Ninh Provincial Police quickly arrived at the scene. After the examination, the police determined that the victim died from multiple stab wounds from sharp objects. The victim was identified as Nguyen Van Phong (born in 1976, residing in Ung Hoa, Hanoi), a driver for a steel transportation company.
Semi-trailer truck parked on the side of the road
Investigators learned that on February 14, 2017, Mr. Phong was assigned to transport over 34 tons of steel from the company’s warehouse to Hanoi for delivery. The company was able to contact him that afternoon, but subsequently, both his phone and the truck’s GPS lost signal.
The Hunt for the Murderous Thieves
Recognizing the severity of the truck driver murder and theft of over 34 tons of steel, the Bac Ninh Provincial Police Department directed the PC45 Division to establish a special task force, in coordination with the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and other professional units, to urgently investigate.
The investigation faced many difficulties. The scene in Thua town was identified as only a secondary scene. Witnesses were only people who discovered the victim, with no information about the perpetrators or the time of the crime. The incident caused public uproar in the locality and among truck drivers.
Police officers investigating the crime scene around the truck
The crime scene investigation revealed that the victim’s legs and arms were tied. Before being murdered, the victim showed signs of suffocation but regained consciousness a few minutes later. However, this sign of life was ended by the sharp, deep stab wounds inflicted by the perpetrator, indicating a decisive attack.
Case Clues and the Investigation Process
The task force screened the victim’s relationships and conflicts, contacted witnesses and acquaintances of the victim to take statements. Security camera footage was also collected for analysis.
After about 12 hours, the task force had initial information about a suspect. Some steel purchasing staff in Gia Lam (Hanoi) reported that on the afternoon of February 14, a man drove a container truck carrying steel to sell, acting in a hurried manner.
From this clue, the task force identified a group of individuals with connections to the victim. The deployment of investigation and arrest had to be extremely cautious, preventing the suspects from fleeing.
Investigators reviewing security camera footage
After numerous efforts, on February 18, Nguyen Minh Lien (34 years old, residing in Kim Thanh, Hai Duong) was arrested at a hotel in Ha Long City (Quang Ninh). A few hours later, Lien’s accomplice, Truong Viet Cuong (38 years old, residing in Phu Thai town, Kim Thanh, Hai Duong), was also brought to justice.
The Perpetrators’ Confession and a Lesson in Vigilance
At the investigation agency, Lien and Cuong confessed to their crimes. Due to a lack of money, Lien persuaded Cuong to kill the truck driver and steal over 34 tons of steel. They murdered Mr. Phong along the way, then transported the steel to a business in Phu Tho (Gia Lam, Hanoi) to sell it.
After committing the crime, the two suspects showed signs of restlessness and anxiety. They destroyed the evidence, divided the proceeds, and fled.
Suspects being interrogated by police
The case of the truck driver murder and theft of over 34 tons of steel serves as a warning to drivers not to be careless when giving strangers a ride, especially when parking in secluded areas. Drivers should prepare for scenarios to escape if necessary.
Currently, the Investigative Police Agency of the Bac Ninh Provincial Police has initiated a criminal case, prosecuted the defendants, and issued an arrest warrant for Lien and Cuong for the crimes of “Murder” and “Robbery.”
