A reward of more than $100,000 has so far failed to draw any new information into the mystery disappearance of a New Zealand woman in Australia 30 years ago.
New South Wales police yesterday announced an A$100,000 (NZ$125,000) reward for information on Marion Sandford, 24, last seen in Sydney in January 1980.
Harbourside Local Area Commander Detective Sergeant Robert George told NZPA police had hoped for the phones to be ringing hot, but so far there had been no leads.
The Sydney Morning Herald website yesterday quoted him as saying that at the time she vanished Ms Sandford was known to police with a record for possession and use of heroin.
"We have since uncovered information to suggest she may have been looking to get involved in the importation side of things, as a drug courier.
"Being involved in the drug trade is obviously a high-risk activity and I'm surmising that anything that has happened to her has happened as a result of being involved in those circles," Mr George said.
"She came from a good honest family and they deserve closure." At the time she vanished, Ms Sandford was living with her brother in suburban Cammeray on Sydney's North Shore.
She penned a note to her brother Peter three days after he last saw saying that she would be home soon.
"I am not sure when I will be home, but it should be within 2 days to 1 week at the latest I suppose," the note said.
"Met a couple of friends. See you later." Mr Sandford, who now lives in Wellington, contacted police when his sister did not return.
He was quoted in the Sunday Star-Times yesterday as saying, "I know we won't get Marion back, but we need to know what happened to her.
"Mum and dad have passed on now; they died without any resolution to this issue. It's important for the rest of us that we get some closure. Hopefully this will prick someone's conscience or the money will motivate someone to come forward."
New Zealand police were helping their New South Wales counterparts in the investigation, Police National Headquarters said in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that Ms Sandford's case was earlier investigated by New South Wales police in connection with the disappearance of two other women, New Zealander Linda Davie, and Mary Wallace.
Detective Inspector Phil Jones, New Zealand police liaison officer in Sydney, told NZPA Ms Davie had never been found.
He added she was last seen in St Leonard's, another North Shore Sydney suburb in April 1980, the other woman in nearby Crow's Nest in 1983.
"The fact the three of them disappeared about the same time from the same area may not be connected and there is no suggestion at all that Ms Davie was involved in drugs.
He added it was "supposition" to say Ms Sandford's disappearance was drugs related.
New Zealand police asked anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant, to contact their local police station or the national missing person unit on (04) 474 9499.
Australian residents could contact Australian Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
