DRUG RING

Grey River Argus, 28 May 1938, Page 5

DRUG RING

IN WEST AUSTRALIA. PERTH, May 20. There are indications that heroin, cocaine and opium ore being brought; into Perth now in greater quantities; than ever before. ; It is likely, in view of recent investigations, that this Increase in the drug traffic is a result of the operations of a drug ring working somewhere along thr no’-th-west coast of this State. Between Wyndham and Port Hadland foreign luggers are believed to be landing the drugs in increasing quantities.

How they are shipping it from there is still a mystery. The immediate increase is due to the resumption in the North-West of the navigation season. For three months the willy-willy period has stopped small luggers from taking chances in the open sea. Investigations show that mystery craft have been seen in considerable numbers around the north-west coast between Wyndham and Broome.

Some time ago the lighthousekeeper of Cape Levique reported I hat a strange Japanese lugger put inlo Cape Levique for water. Cape Levique is one of the most isolated lighthouses in Australia. I When the lighthouse-keeper went aboard the lugger, he found that the Japanese had a complete chart of the north-west coast. On the chart was a course marked from Japan to a point approximately opposite Broome. The chart kept a track a consider-] ‘ible number of miles out from land all along the route. I Beagle Bay Mission found traces of strange luggers having visited theirreservations recently.