Crates taken by sea?

Press, 16 July 1980, Page 2

Crates taken by sea?

PA Auckland Three crates (believed to have contained drugs) that disappeared' from Auckland wharves last week, must have been removed by sea, the Auckland Harbour Board general purposes committee was told yesterday. ... • Someone must have hidden in the wharf-shed after the working day, said the deputy, operations officer. Mr A. Smythe. He said it was difficult to prevent this happening. The crates could have left the wharf by the gate. The shed had not been broken into, he said. ■ . In a similar incident this year it was assumed drugs.

were, removed from the wharf in the same way. Mr Smythe said that the three crates were unloaded on July 8 and stored in a shed. They were on a pallet. Next day, the tally clerk checking cargo found the pallet empty. He reported this and the consignment was traced to a company that had gone into liquidation. There was no sign of illegal entry. The’ shed.’doors were closed. No flocks or fastenings were broken. Only 11 trucks had left the wharf after discharge; and discovery <of the misstri'g cargo. It had to./-be doheluded that the crates left the wharf by sea, said Mr Smvthtb ■