SMUGGLING GOLD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 9

SMUGGLING GOLD

BAID ON.DUTCH STEAMER IN SYDNEY. A successful raid on an outwardbound steamer was made by Customs searchers at Sydney on a recent afternoon. The Dutch steamer Roggcveen, Which was timed to leave at noon, was suspected by the Customs officers. An expert gang of searchers was told off to £° through tho ship before she left the *'??, ■•. * or ?olne time past every .vessel which has left port for an'oversea destination has been watched for gold smugglers, and there was reason to believe that an attempt was to be made to get away with a parcel 'on the Eoggcveen. It did not take the searchers long to get on to the track of the cold. After going through the usual hiding places they put into operniton the latest methods adopted by 7T.M.C. for locating precious metal, and were well rewarded. Hidden in an old cardboard box a searcher found ,f:7O in gold, end he promptly took possession of it. The searchers were not satisfied with the find. They continued to hunt, but failed to discover any more coins. ' They aro inclined to believe that further "parcels" were in have been shipped, but that their vigilance blocked the way of the smuggler. When satisfied that thero rrna nothing more to be found the searchers left tho ship, and the master of the Poggeveen was given a clearance. The vessel sailed for Java. less than a week before the searchers found nearly ,£2OO in gold on ; the Victoria. , Tho taking of gold out of Australia is prohibited under tho War Precautions Act.