SMUGGLING OPIUM
NIAGARA SEAMAN CAUGHT.
(Special to "Star.”)
AUCKLAND, February 28
An able seaman off the Niagara, William Miles, was fined £25 to-day by Magistrate Hunt, for having in his possession prepared opium valued at £l9 10/-. Chief Detective Hammon said that in a similar case recently, a. seaman on the TJlimaroa was fined £5O by Mr Hunt.
Mr Penn, Collector of Customs, said that was a mistake. Mr Hunt said it. would be absurd to fine this man £125. the minimum penalty. Tin didn’t want to send him to gaol. He wanted to leave on his ship to-day. Mr Penn said that the Union Company would discharge Miles when he got to Sydney. They would not. keep a man on who smuggled opium. “I don’t think I’ll look at that, statute of yours. Mr Penn,” said Mr Hunt, who then fined Miles £25. Miles declared that he ’wasn’t, connected with any ring, and stated it was the first time he had dealt in opium, otherwise he wouldn’t have been caught so easily. He had heard a lot about the big money that could be made out of the traffic so thought he would go for a few bob. He secured opium in Sydney, and took it to Vancouver, hut couldn’t, get rid of it. there. He is married, with two children.
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Bibliographic details
Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1928, Page 5
Word Count
222SMUGGLING OPIUM Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1928, Page 5
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