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Betrayed

The Incredible Untold Inside Story of the Two Most Unlikely Drug-Running Grannies in Australian History

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About this listen

 WINNER OF THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST TRUE CRIME 2023
WINNER OF THE UK TRUE CRIME AWARD FOR BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING 2024

A relentlessly fascinating and often jaw-dropping true story of two American women who unwittingly became Australia's 'Drug Grannies'

In 1977, Vera 'Toddie' Hays and Florice 'Beezie' Bessire thought they were about to embark on the trip of a lifetime when Vera's nephew, Vern Todd, offered them a campervan to drive from Germany to India. Little did the women know that Vern and his accomplices would secretly pack two tonnes of hashish into the vehicle along the way.

This shocking inside story chronicles Toddie and Beezie's wild ride across continents and oceans to our shores, their arrest by Australian Federal Bureau of Narcotics agents, and all that the women faced in the aftermath.

On the ground at the time, journalist Sandi Logan draws from his interviews with those attached to the events, and accounts in the women's diaries, to tell the incredible tale of an unlikely pair who became infamous and their fight for justice.©2022 Sandi Logan (P)2022 Hachette Australia Pty Ltd Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions True Crime
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“Betrayed” tells the fascinating story of two American women whose favourite nephew sent them on what was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime in late 1977. After an eventful drive from Germany to India they were forced to fly Australia to pick up their campervan. Little did the women know that they had imported 1.9 tonnes of hashish into the country. Pursuit by the police, they were finally arrested and jailed for 14 years without parole.
The author Sandi Logan first became aware of the women’s fate as a young journalist. He gained their trust and regularly visited them in prison, campaigning for their release.
“Betrayed” is a true crime story well told by the author who was not only personally involved at the time, but who has also carried out extensive additional research into the background of the story over the years. The book is well written, providing many layers of information while still being easy and entertaining to follow.

Sandi Logan is a pleasure to listen to as he reads “Betrayed”.

True Crime Story about how two American women ended up in jail in Australia

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