Australian heroin trafficking seizures result in sentencing and arrests

A Melbourne gambling addict, 68‑year‑old Ion Almajan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after police seized nearly 700 g of heroin (436 g pure) from his Mitsubishi Pajero in Wodonga, Victoria. Almajan, who claimed the drug transport was a desperate attempt to repay an $8,000 gambling debt, expressed remorse for the impact on his family. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community work.

In a separate incident on Sydney Road in Kelso, New South Wales, police stopped a hatchback and recovered 28.76 g of heroin valued at about $10,000. The 50‑year‑old male driver allegedly assaulted an officer during the stop, and both he and a 42‑year‑old female passenger were arrested and later granted conditional bail pending further court appearances.