AUCKLAND OPIUM DEN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 31 March 1931, Page 10

AUCKLAND OPIUM DEN

POLICE SMASH WAY IN

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, ,30th March,

Armed with axes and jemmies, four detectives hacked their way into a j Chinese opium-den at Grey avenue on j Saturday night and caught two Chinese | under the influence of tho drug. An ■ effort had' been made to burn all the paraphernalia and traces that would show that opium was smoked on the ; premises. To-day, Ah Hing, aged 37, and Jack Nan, aged 23, appeared beforo Mr. Hunt, S.M. Ah Hing was charged with permitting tho promises to be used for smoking opium, and Nan was charged with having prepared opium in his possession. Ah Hing was fined £100, with tho alternative of threb months in gaol, and Nan was fined £25, with the alternative of two months' gaol. They were allowed a fortnight in which to pay. Steel-lined doors, heavily barred and bolted, were found by the detectives. The place was just as heavily barricaded as the Chinese "fortress" that was raided about a month ago. There had been complaint that opium was smoked on the premises, so a raid was carried out under the Dangerous Drugs Act. It was the fourth time tho place had been raided. After breaking in through tho wall the detectives made a tour of the house and found, that one room was elaborately set up to enable smokers to sleep off the effects of the drug. Five beds were prepared ready for smokers.