A 79-year-old lady who posted hundreds of packages containing narcotics was exempted from jail time for her role in the drug trade.
Authorities in Melbourne’s southeast have detained Southsada Sananikone and her 42-year-old daughter Mimi Sananikone on suspicion of operating a complex narcotics enterprise out of their residence in Hughesdale.
Her daughter was convicted of being the operation’s mastermind and sentenced to nearly 18 years in prison.
After a lengthy trial, a jury decided that the 79-year-old was convicted of conspiring to distribute drugs.
The court heard that Sananikone sent 255 packages on seven separate times over the course of five weeks from the Darling, Oakleigh South, and Murrumbeena post offices.
Methylamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, and other illegal narcotics were allegedly included within.
The fact that Sananikone has consistently denied knowing the contents of the parcels is undeniable.
She was a low-ranking official in Mimi’s drug trafficking organization, according to Judge Robyn Harper.
“I accept that you had no knowledge of the contents of the packages but it was unreasonable for you to think that your actions were not linked to illicit activity,” the judge stated.
Due to her advanced age and cognitive impairment, the judge found that incarceration would be more taxing on her.
A 12-month community corrections term was imposed upon her upon conviction.
