Cargo thieves leave stones

Press, Issue 33842, 14 May 1975, Page 18

Cargo thieves leave stones

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 13.

Importers are receiving stones instead of the expensive goods they have ordered. Boxes shipped to Auckland have had their contents stolen and stones substituted to make up the weight.

The latest bogus cargo arrived at Auckland aboard the German vessel Bayemstein, which will sail for Wellington tomorrow. The ship carried a consignment of sewing machines packed in individual cartons. As watersiders lifted the cartons from the hold, the bottom fell out of two of them. They were filled with stones. The head of the port security service (Mr N. Howes) said today that the stones were of a type not found in New Zealand, indicating the sewing machines were replaced by them in Europe. Mr Howes said it was impossible to examine every piece of cargo on the ship to see if other goods had been replaced by stones, but he advised consignees to check the cargo when it was delivered.

"There might be more of these rock-filled cartons around.” he said. The International Association of Port and Airport

Police was being informed of I the thefts but it was up to the port of origin to investigate them. All the security service, run by the Auckland Harbour Board and staffed by former detectives, could do was to warn consignees to keep watch for the substitutions, SEALS INTACT

It was impossible for the goods to have been stolen by New Zealand watersiders, Mr Howes said. Apart from the “foreign” stones, none of the seals on cartons, containers, or. pallets had been broken.

"This is an international problem. It has not yet got to the stage where we can see a pattern emerging. It is not regular. The only way to stop it is through the port police association, and not ( all ports are members." Mr Howes is the only New Zealand representative of the association, which is 'affiliated to Interpol. The 'Organisation has 39 member countries, and is now establishing an intelligence network.