Pubdate: Sun, 02 Apr 2006
Source: Sunday Territorian (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://www.ntnews.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3401
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

AUSSIE DRUG TRIO HEARING

HONG KONG: A sentencing hearing is due to begin tomorrow for three
Australians, including two teenagers, charged with smuggling heroin in
Hong Kong.

The defendants, in custody since April 12 when they were arrested in a
hotel room, have pleaded guilty to being smugglers, or "drug mules,"
who intended to carry heroin from Hong Kong to Sydney.

The trio face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of
$A900,000, prosecutor Derek Lai said.

The accused - all from Sydney - included Hutchinson Tran, an
unemployed 21-year-old, and Rachel Ann Diaz, a 17-year-old
hairstylist. The third defendant could not be identified because of
his age. He was 15 at the time of the offence.

The three were arrested in a hotel room with 701g of heroin.
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