TRAFFIC IN OPIUM

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 248, 15 July 1932, Page 10

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM

Magistrate’s Advice to Police EUROPEAN FINED £4O Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, July 14. On a charge of beiug found in possession of prepared opium on June 30, James Logie, alias Kelly, a labourer, 29 vears of age, was fined £4O and costs by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. ’ After hearing the evidence, which showed that accused sold opium to two Chinese, the magistrate said that it was evident that someone was trafficking in the drug to a very considerable extent, and he suggested that the police should make every effort to get to the source of Chief-Detective Carroll produced three tins and a test tube containing opium. He said that the tins, which contained liver salts according to the label, were sold to two Chinese. The Government analyst had found prepared opium. Fred Young, a Chinese shop assistant, said that on June 30 he was in the shop of George Chew when two Englishmen came in. Witness bought one tin for £6, and later gave it to the police. He bought the tin because he thought it contained opium, which he wanted for medical use. It was bad opium, so he told the police. George Chew, fruiterer, said he bought two tins. He gave accused a cheque for £5 and £ll/10/- in cash. He stopped payment of the cheque when he found the opium was bad. lie had used opium for 10 years for curing ailments. The Government analyst said all the opium was fit for smoking. Counsel for accused said Logie was not connected with the drug traffic other than the distribution of it. He was more an agent than a real offender. “The total amount of opium in the three tins is pretty, considerable,” said the magistrate, “and someone must be trafficking in this drug to a considerable extent. If one tin were full there would be enough opium in it to put all the Chinese in Christchurch to sleep for prettv well 12 months. Just a few whiffs and they are in the land of dreams.” The magistrate added that ho looked upon Europeans connection with opium as being much more serious than Chinese connection with it.