BEER AND OPIUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1940, Page 14

BEER AND OPIUM.

BUT THEY DID NOT MIX. CHINESE SMUGGLER CAUGHT. (From Our Own Correspondent. I SYDNEY;, January 20. It was claimed by the" Minister for Customs, Mr. Law son, this week that 30 Customs and jKilice officers eiifiajied in lighting the waterfront trade in smuggled drugs had almost wiped it out. In making this announcement, Mr. Lawson gave the following instances of smugglers' tricks:— ■A ship's Chinese fireman used to come ashore every day with a large billy which he used to have filled with beer. The Customs men know that Chinese are not great beer drinkers and decided to investigate. They found that the billy had a false bottom, out of which opium was taken and delivered ashore before the billy was filled with beer. Another smuggler used to stow away opium in the hollow soles and heels of his shoes. Another had a calico body belt with slots. There was a musician with an artificial leg who used to visit Chinese steamers and entertain the crews. One night a Customs officer, with visions of a sensational opium haul and early promotion, took the musician aside and invited him to take off his wooden leg. Inside the limb the Customs man found not opium, but a pair of lady's silk pyjamas, one cigar and a small pocket torch.

. The record seizure of opium was made aboard a Chinese steamer, the Arafura, 15 years ago. The haul was 1537 tins of opium, each worth £10. It was all burnt. Commenting on this haul at'the time, a Sydney newspaper said there were men in the city, recognised as respectable citizens,' who had built fine homes for thetuselves with money made in the drug trade.

Ami the drug trade has dwindled the Customs men have been making bigger hauls of smuggled tobacco, cigars and cigarettes."" Just before a steamer left for Melbourne. Customs men discovered a bulky object underneath several tons of flax. So as not to delay the ship, they went down the harbour in it and had a launch waiting for them at Watson's Bay to take off the contraband. The haui was 189,570 cigarillos, 22,140 cigarettes, <Ull> of tobacco, 85 cigars and 20 yards of silk.