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Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history
The relentlessly fascinating, sometimes hilarious and often jaw-dropping true story of two American women who became unwitting drug mules by driving a hashish-laden campervan from Stuttgart to Bombay, then later to Australia, where they were arrested and jailed.
Think of the two most unlikely drug dealers you can imagine and you'll probably come up with the Drug Grannies: Vera Hays and Florice Bessire, who were 59 and 61 respectively in 1977 when Vera's nephew, Vern Todd, persuaded them to drive a campervan from Germany to India, then on to Australia.
Little did the women know that Vern and his accomplices had packed two tonnes of hashish into the campervan in what was a creative but ultimately destined-to-fail drug trafficking attempt that would go down in Australian history.
Betrayed is the shocking, real-life inside story of 'Toddie' and 'Beezie' - as they were known - drawn from journalist Sandi Logan's experience reporting on the ground at the time, combined with intensive research, including access to the women's own diaries. It chronicles their wild ride across continents and oceans to our shores, where they were busted by Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau agents, arrested and jailed, including what came after.
Were the Grannies none the wiser to the highly lucrative - and highly illegal - cargo they transported here, as they claimed? Were they set up and betrayed by Vera's nephew? Or could they have been the unlikely masterminds behind the entire plot?
Now, 45 years after they set out on their ill-fated journey, it's time to tell their story.
Think of the two most unlikely drug dealers you can imagine and you'll probably come up with the Drug Grannies: Vera Hays and Florice Bessire, who were 59 and 61 respectively in 1977 when Vera's nephew, Vern Todd, persuaded them to drive a campervan from Germany to India, then on to Australia.
Little did the women know that Vern and his accomplices had packed two tonnes of hashish into the campervan in what was a creative but ultimately destined-to-fail drug trafficking attempt that would go down in Australian history.
Betrayed is the shocking, real-life inside story of 'Toddie' and 'Beezie' - as they were known - drawn from journalist Sandi Logan's experience reporting on the ground at the time, combined with intensive research, including access to the women's own diaries. It chronicles their wild ride across continents and oceans to our shores, where they were busted by Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau agents, arrested and jailed, including what came after.
Were the Grannies none the wiser to the highly lucrative - and highly illegal - cargo they transported here, as they claimed? Were they set up and betrayed by Vera's nephew? Or could they have been the unlikely masterminds behind the entire plot?
Now, 45 years after they set out on their ill-fated journey, it's time to tell their story.
- GenresTrue Crime
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
7 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 25, 2024
Unbelievable!
August 23, 2025
After reading this book, I am not sure on the guilt or otherwise of the 2 "drug grannies". Did they know more than they claimed? or were they completely conned by Vera's nephew?
A detailed recollection of events which led to their arrest and imprisonment.
The relentlessly fascinating, sometimes hilarious and often jaw-dropping true story of two American women who became unwitting drug mules by driving a hashish-laden campervan from Stuttgart to Bombay, then later to Australia, where they were arrested and jailed. Think of the two most unlikely drug dealers you can imagine and you'll probably come up with the Drug Grannies: Vera Hays and Florice Bessire, who were 59 and 61 respectively in 1977 when Vera's nephew, Vern Todd, persuaded them to drive a campervan from Germany to India, then on to Australia. Little did the women know that Vern and his accomplices had packed two tonnes of hashish into the campervan in what was a creative but ultimately destined-to-fail drug trafficking attempt that would go down in Australian history. Betrayed is the shocking, real-life inside story of 'Toddie' and 'Beezie' - as they were known - drawn from journalist Sandi Logan's experience reporting on the ground at the time, combined with intensive research, including access to the women's own diaries. It chronicles their wild ride across continents and oceans to our shores, where they were busted by Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau agents, arrested and jailed, including what came after. Were the Grannies none the wiser to the highly lucrative - and highly illegal - cargo they transported here, as they claimed? Were they set up and betrayed by Vera's nephew? Or could they have been the unlikely masterminds behind the entire plot? Now, 45 years after they set out on their ill-fated journey, it's time to tell their story.
A detailed recollection of events which led to their arrest and imprisonment.
The relentlessly fascinating, sometimes hilarious and often jaw-dropping true story of two American women who became unwitting drug mules by driving a hashish-laden campervan from Stuttgart to Bombay, then later to Australia, where they were arrested and jailed. Think of the two most unlikely drug dealers you can imagine and you'll probably come up with the Drug Grannies: Vera Hays and Florice Bessire, who were 59 and 61 respectively in 1977 when Vera's nephew, Vern Todd, persuaded them to drive a campervan from Germany to India, then on to Australia. Little did the women know that Vern and his accomplices had packed two tonnes of hashish into the campervan in what was a creative but ultimately destined-to-fail drug trafficking attempt that would go down in Australian history. Betrayed is the shocking, real-life inside story of 'Toddie' and 'Beezie' - as they were known - drawn from journalist Sandi Logan's experience reporting on the ground at the time, combined with intensive research, including access to the women's own diaries. It chronicles their wild ride across continents and oceans to our shores, where they were busted by Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau agents, arrested and jailed, including what came after. Were the Grannies none the wiser to the highly lucrative - and highly illegal - cargo they transported here, as they claimed? Were they set up and betrayed by Vera's nephew? Or could they have been the unlikely masterminds behind the entire plot? Now, 45 years after they set out on their ill-fated journey, it's time to tell their story.
June 29, 2025
This book blew me away. I cannot believe this actually happened in our country!
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by the author Sandi Logan, and I just fell in love with listening to his stories, his interactions and his memories with the “drug grannies”.
My heart genuinely went out to Vera and Florice, and their horrible experience inside an Australian jail after being manipulated into smuggling hashish into Australia by Vera’s despicable nephew Vern Todd and sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment.
Sandi Logan does an impeccable job of bringing these two women to the surface, and the human element behind them, when the media made them out to be monsters. To hear their journals, the letters and phone calls, their ongoing battles with appeals and the sadness of being so far away from loved ones made the story so much more heart wrenching.
So glad I took the time to sit down and listen and read this one. I appreciate the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by the author Sandi Logan, and I just fell in love with listening to his stories, his interactions and his memories with the “drug grannies”.
My heart genuinely went out to Vera and Florice, and their horrible experience inside an Australian jail after being manipulated into smuggling hashish into Australia by Vera’s despicable nephew Vern Todd and sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment.
Sandi Logan does an impeccable job of bringing these two women to the surface, and the human element behind them, when the media made them out to be monsters. To hear their journals, the letters and phone calls, their ongoing battles with appeals and the sadness of being so far away from loved ones made the story so much more heart wrenching.
So glad I took the time to sit down and listen and read this one. I appreciate the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2022
I remember the media swirl around the Drug Grannies and the debate about letting them go or keeping them locked up but also of not giving them a second thought as they spent their time in prison. So I was interested in reading about them and this is an interesting book.
Logan brings the ‘grannies’ (although neither of them had children let alone grandchildren) to life as real live humans and the trauma they went through because of trusting a beloved nephew.
I think Logan’s book also shines a light on the inherently cruel misogynistic culture that abounds in Australian government and society. Why? for example, were many younger women ‘drug runners’ given lighter sentences than Toddie and Beezie? Was it because these two were ageing women without husbands or children and as such were invisible and therefore expendable…?
Logan brings the ‘grannies’ (although neither of them had children let alone grandchildren) to life as real live humans and the trauma they went through because of trusting a beloved nephew.
I think Logan’s book also shines a light on the inherently cruel misogynistic culture that abounds in Australian government and society. Why? for example, were many younger women ‘drug runners’ given lighter sentences than Toddie and Beezie? Was it because these two were ageing women without husbands or children and as such were invisible and therefore expendable…?
May 4, 2025
I listened to the book on Audible, very well read by the author himself. And what an amazing story this is of two women who were betrayed by family, political actors and the judicial system.
The author - who deservedly won several awards for BETRAYED - spent many hours talking to the women while they were in prison and had been given their diaries and photos after their release. Sandi Logan spent years collating information and interviewing key figures in this saga. It resulted in a well written and spell binding true crime story where two older women were made an example of while the true criminals and drug kingpins escaped the law.
It’s an excellent read, funny in parts, and also gives a great insight into Australian politics in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.
I highly recommend BETRAYED.
The author - who deservedly won several awards for BETRAYED - spent many hours talking to the women while they were in prison and had been given their diaries and photos after their release. Sandi Logan spent years collating information and interviewing key figures in this saga. It resulted in a well written and spell binding true crime story where two older women were made an example of while the true criminals and drug kingpins escaped the law.
It’s an excellent read, funny in parts, and also gives a great insight into Australian politics in the late 1970s and into the 1980s.
I highly recommend BETRAYED.
August 21, 2023
A ripping read
If ever there was a book that I “…couldn’t put down…” this was it. I remember the story of the drug grannies well as from 1977 to 1980 I was working for Australian immigration in the US. I had an idea that this was probably a miscarriage of justice but thanks to Sandi I now know it was. A great story brilliantly told by a brave and determined man. You were a true friend to the Gracie’s Sandi.
If ever there was a book that I “…couldn’t put down…” this was it. I remember the story of the drug grannies well as from 1977 to 1980 I was working for Australian immigration in the US. I had an idea that this was probably a miscarriage of justice but thanks to Sandi I now know it was. A great story brilliantly told by a brave and determined man. You were a true friend to the Gracie’s Sandi.
December 6, 2023
Unfortunate situation two senior Americans find themselves in when they're tricked into drug smuggling by a nephew. Detailed discussion of the unfairness of their sentence and criticism of the Australian government for discriminating against them on basis if their citizenship. An interesting read overall.
August 23, 2022
Engaging read. Had me hooked from the first page. Just enjoyed the writing style and well researched.
September 19, 2022
The incredible true story of the 'Drug-running grannies', betrayed by someone closest to them who threw them under the bus in order to escape the law himself.
October 9, 2022
The book slows down during the courtroom hearings. You discover how bad politics/politicians can have an adverse impact on innocent people.
May 16, 2023
What a book what a story, and its all true, loved it well written. When someone makes you an offer that is to good to be true, it isn’t true. Be warned.
April 29, 2024
Unbelievable!
August 27, 2024
A very interesting read… more than I thought it would be.
September 29, 2022
I enjoyed this story of the two grannies who were offered the holiday of a lifetime by one of their nephews. All they had to do was drive a camper van across Europe and enjoy the sights, so the van could eventually be shipped to Australia. Sounds like fun to me!
However along the way they suspect there might be more to this agreement that meets the eye and of course they are right. So why continue on? Why not stand your ground and refuse to move another inch? This is the part I can’t understand. With nearly 2 tons of drugs hidden in the van they are caught in Australia and have to face the consequences which I actually thought was fairly mild considering the amount of drugs that were concealed.
After thinking about the story for a few days, I’ve come to the conclusion that times were so much more innocent then, drugs weren’t as common as they are now and a favourite nephew’s story was probably believed much more easily by an elderly Aunt.
However along the way they suspect there might be more to this agreement that meets the eye and of course they are right. So why continue on? Why not stand your ground and refuse to move another inch? This is the part I can’t understand. With nearly 2 tons of drugs hidden in the van they are caught in Australia and have to face the consequences which I actually thought was fairly mild considering the amount of drugs that were concealed.
After thinking about the story for a few days, I’ve come to the conclusion that times were so much more innocent then, drugs weren’t as common as they are now and a favourite nephew’s story was probably believed much more easily by an elderly Aunt.
June 20, 2022
I only knew a few details of this story when I started listening to this book on Audible, figuring it would be similar to a TV show I've watched about people arrested abroad for drug smuggling. Within the first few chapters, I was completely absorbed with following the women's story. I love how the author weaved multiple perspectives throughout the book - of the women as they traveled, and then the Australian narcotics officers tasked with investigating the women. I couldn't help but empathize with the women and the situation in which they found themselves. This would make a great movie!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews