DUBAI: An Indian expat living in Doha has won a mega prize worth 15 million dirhams ($14.1 million) in Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket raffle.
Thasleena Purayil, from Kerala, purchased her ticket online on Jan. 26.
Her winning ticket number 291310 was picked at the draw held on Wednesday.
Purayil told Dubai-based newspaper Gulf News that she was excited about the win.
“It was the first time we bought the Big Ticket. I cannot believe we won,” she said.
The winner is a mother of three: a son aged 21, a 15 year-old daughter and an infant just over a year old.
The draw’s largest prize is the Mighty 20 million Jackpot, followed by prizes of 15 million dirhams, Dh12 million dirhams and Dh10 million dirhams.
Purayil was among seven other Indians who had won prize money between 350,000 dirhams to 20,000 dirhams in the raffle draw.
Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket is the longest-running and biggest raffle draw in the UAE.
Indian expat in Qatar wins 15 million dirhams in Abu Dhabi raffle
https://arab.news/grg2z
Indian expat in Qatar wins 15 million dirhams in Abu Dhabi raffle
Sydney man jailed for mailing reptiles in popcorn bags
- The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said
SYDNEY: A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail, authorities said Tuesday.
The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said.
A district court in Sydney gave the man, 61-year-old Neil Simpson, a non-parole period of five years and four months.
Investigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.
The animals — including shingleback lizards, western blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons and southern pygmy spiny-tailed skinks — were posted in 15 packages between 2018 and 2023.
“Lizards, skinks and dragons were secured in calico bags. These bags were concealed in bags of popcorn, biscuit tins and a women’s handbag and placed inside cardboard boxes,” the statement said.
The smuggler had attempted to get others to post the animals on his behalf but was identified by government investigators and the New South Wales police, it added.
Three other people were convicted for taking part in the crime.
The New South Wales government’s environment department said that “the illegal wildlife trade is not a victimless crime,” harming conservation and stripping the state “and Australia of its unique biodiversity.”
