VIC: Cafe staff jailed for running heroin shop

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-1999
VIC: Cafe staff jailed for running heroin shop

Two men have been handed hefty jail sentences for using their suburban Melbourne cafe as a
front for dealing heroin while serving their customers free coffee to allay suspicion.

A third man, who worked as a waiter at the Veneto cafe in suburban Northcote, received a
lesser sentence.

County Court judge RUSSELL LEWIS said the men used the premises to trade with dissolute
young people, and said business was brisk between January and July last year.

The judge said heroin valued at $257,600 was sold in those six months, and the profit to
the men was $73,600.

The proprietor, 54-year-old GUISEPPE ROCCA and his partner FRANCO CIMA, 56, were each
sentenced to seven years and six months after pleading guilty to trafficking in heroin.

Their accomplice, GIOVANNI FOLINO-GALLA, 53, of Coburg, who pleaded guilty to aiding and
abetting, was sentenced to three years and six months.

AAP RTV sew/ra/rt/jn

KEYWORD: ROCCA (MELBOURNE)

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