SYDNEY’S DRUG TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 6

SYDNEY’S DRUG TRAFFIC

A SERIOUS MENAGE DEALERS LIVING IN LUXURY COCAINE SOLD IN HOTEL LOUNGES Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12, at 8,55 a.m.) As the result of the seizure recently of drugs smuggled into Sydney from the East, . tho Commissioner of Police (Mr Mitchell) is urging the need of tightening up the laws against the use of cocaine and other drugs, which, he alleges, is growing in alarming proportions and becoming a serious menace. Ho points out that police efforts at suppression arc handicapped in that while the laws of Now South Wales provide heavy penalties, tho laws of some of tho other States are less stringent. The police will not be able to deal effectively with the evil until it is made a Federal matter with uniform legislation for the whole Commonwealth. t*

The drugs, the Police Commissioner said, wore manufactured and doctored down in Java and Singapore, thence smuggled into Australia. Dealing with tho police efforts to suppress tho traffic, Mr Mitchell said that they found women selling cocaine in the lounges of a fashionable hotel right under the eyes of the management. They found men living in luxury on the sale of cocaine to unfortunate girls, some of them being in charge of dozens of subordinates who sold tho drug in small quantities to addicts. Cocaine was circulated in all quarters of the city. It was distributed from palatial flats in Darlinghurst and slums in Surry Hills. The dealers in drugs were surrounded by gangs of criminals who helped to spend the profits. CUSTOMS OFFICIALS ALERT. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12, at 11 a m.) Referring to tho prevalence of the drug traffic, Mr H. E. Pratten (Minister of Customs) said that with legislation in the other States similar to that in Now South AVales the position might be considerably improved, but notwithstanding tho most rigid precautions it was impossible for the Customs Department to police every avenue of importation, but the department was fully alive to its responsibilities, and was leaving no stone unturned effectively to control the importation and disposal of drugs.

Mr E. G. Theodore announced his intention of having the matter discussed when tho House of Representatives met.