THE DRUG TRAFFIC.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 March 1923, Page 3

THE DRUG TRAFFIC.

Gaol For London Merchant.

HUGE PROFITS THAT' ©ID NOT NOT MATERIALISE.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] H’er Press Association.] (Received This Day, 8.55 a.m.) London, March 16.

Howard Humphries, a City hardware, merchant, was fined £2OO and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for offering to procure morphine, heroin and cocaine for a Chinese company at Amoy. He pleaded guilty. Counsel, in opening the case, said accused was a man who utilised an established position in the commercial world ior the purpose of making huge profits by trafficking in dangerous drugs. When tiie Japanese steanjer Mishi Mara arrived at hong Kong in October last year, a Japanese aboard was arrested and lour cases of furniture belonging to him were seized. A total of 24000 zof morphine and 24000 z of cocaine were found hidden in the upholstery. The Japanese had a quantity of documents, and through these the authorities were enabled to bring charges against Humphries. Included were receipts showing that the Tangsay Company, Amoy, had paid £7280 to accused. There were .also directions in his handwriting indicating that the drugs were contained in the furniture. The authorities intercepted correspondence, in the Post Office, in one letter it was pointed out that the shipment would realise in China £120,000, leaving a profit of £79,000.

The Japanese at Hong Kong was fined 2500 dollars, and got six months’ imprisonment.