OPIUM TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 7

OPIUM TRAFFIC

Young Seaman With 20 Tins in Possession MINIMUM FINE IMPOSED "When accosted by a detective and a Customs official just as lie was going t'o board the Limited express for Auckland on Monday night. Basil Francis Pocock. seaman, aged 26. admitted having 20 tins of opium in a suitease he was carrying. He was brought before .Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, charged with being found in possession of a dangerous drug and was fined £-L», the minimum penalty. Emphasis was placed on the seriousness of traffic tn opium. Mr, A. Paul. Collector of Customs, said that acting on information received, Detectives W. Ritchie and 1. Brosnan, accompanied by three Customs officials, went to .Thorndon fetation, anil a few minutes before the Limited express was due to leave for Auckland they saw accused, who was carrying a suitcase. Accosted by a detective and a Customs officer, he immediately admitted having 20 tins ot opium in the case. He- said he did not wish to say where he obtained it from. It was believed, however, that it had only arrived in the port that dav. Accused intended proceeding north with the opium in; order to sell it, and expected to receive £lO a tin. Mr. Paul mentioned that such a price was lower than was usually obtained. As much as £2O was paid for a tm or opium of similar size to those in accused’s possession, but the price paid depended on how much opium was procurable at the time. Mr. Paul stated that the maximum penalty for the offence was £lOO, and the minimum £2u. Representing accused, Mr. R. Hardie Boys said his client was definitely not the person who imported the opium, and his offence consisted merely of being willing to put it in his bag and carry it to Auckland.