DECEMBER 10, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Santa’s furry helpers Santa is set to make an early visit to Sunshine this year, but he’ll be guided by some different helpers. The reindeer are resting up before their big trip on Christmas Eve, so Santa has enlisted the help of Siberian huskies to bring him to town. The big man in red will be stopping by the Sunshine Marketplace on Saturday, September 14 from noon. Sunshine Marketplace centre manager Nick Kyritsis said he was happy Santa could make the trip, with or without Rudolph and his friends. “Santa tells us the reindeer are resting at the North Pole before their work begins on Christmas Eve,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to have Santa at Sunshine Marketplace and know his huskies will prove to be a hit with our customers this Christmas.” While Santa is usually the star of the show, the pups will be primed for patting and pictures with families who stop by for a visit. Tate Papworth
Trang Phan and Leonardo, 10, with Dakota the husky at Sunshine Marketplace. (Luke Hemer) 202019_01
Record $1b drug bust By Ewen McRae More than $1 billion of illicit drugs have been seized after a series of raids across the western suburbs uncovered Australia’s largest ever onshore methamphetamine haul. Three people have been charged after Australian Federal Police executed warrants at properties in Darley, Sunshine West, Brooklyn, Elwood and Murrumbeena on December 4. IT worker Stephen Francis Mizzi, 37, from Elwood, and couple Rachel Annette Cachia, 37, and Donovan Mark Rodrigues, 38 – both
customs brokers from Darley – were charged on Thursday in relation to the record haul. The AFP alleges all three were involved in the importation of more than 1.6 tonnes of illicit drugs – equal to almost 16 million drug deals – in stereo speakers originating from Bangkok, Thailand. In total, 1.596 tonnes of methamphetamine and 37 kilograms of heroin (a total of 1633 kgs) were detected with an estimated street value of $1.197 billion and $18.5 million, respectively. Police say it is the largest seizure of heroin in Australia since 2017.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan praised the work of officers in keeping the drugs from reaching the community, and said the seizure was a warning to those seeking to import illicit drugs into Australia. “Australian law enforcement agencies are committed to combating the hold organised crime has on Australia to keep dangerous drugs off our streets and out of our homes,” he said. “Australia is a lucrative market for drug traffickers only due to the amount of drugs consumed by the public and the price paid for those drugs.
“This is a social problem that is the responsibility of everyone to address. “Police will continue to protect our communities and borders against exploitation by sophisticated criminal networks.” Border Force officers detected the drugs in vacuum-sealed bags after x-ray technology detected anomalies inside the speakers. The three people have each been charged with numerous counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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