ATLANTIC BLOCKADE

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1943, Page 3

ATLANTIC BLOCKADE

BRITISH CONTROL OF CONTRABAND. , RUGBY. Nov. 30. The Parliamentary Secretary of Economic Warfare, Mr. Dingle Foot, informed the House of Commons that last month British contraband control officers discovered attempts to smuggle contraband on Spanish ships sailing from South America to Spain. These involved goods of small bulk but of high value, such as industrial diamonds, platinum, and liver extract used for the manufacture of special tonics supplied to shock troops, airmen and submarine ciews. The number of shI PS ’ntercepted and brought in for search at the British control base had increased. Mi. Foot added: “If we have reason to believe a passenger or seaman has been involved in smuggling or attempting to smuggle we take steps through our system of passenger and crew control to prevent him ciossin,, the Atlantic again. It is deal, as a general rule, that the shipping companies and masters concerned are ignorant of these attempts to defeat the blockade. I must, howeverremind those concerned if theie is evidence of their complicity both cargo and ship could bo liable to seizure.’’