DRUG TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1932, Page 7

DRUG TRADE

SYDNEY AS CENTRE. A CEASELESS VIGIL. SYDNEY, November 3. Th-e recent conviction in Sydney o. two Chinese charged with having hat. cocaine in their possession directs at Mention to the police belief that Sydney i, s th e centre of the illicit drug trade in the Pacific. One of the men convicted was described as a “drug king,’ and tihe Magistrate imposed a heavj sentence of hard labour and a substantial line. The police are not surprised that. Chinese should play such an important part in the trade, foi the police are convinced that the bull of the supplies come from the E’ast. The main offenders in landing the drugs m Australia are the crews of Eastern vessels in the regular trade between Australia alid Japali. On e of th!e main sources is Japan, where, according to the Customs authorities. #eel*et factories turn out vast quantities of the drugs, which are exported to every corner of the globe. Australia hag an enormous coastline and smuggling is not difficult, Th* Queensland coast, along which the East ern vessels pass, is the favourite land irig place. Arrangements are made be fore a ship leaves for the East, and t system of signalling is used on the re turn journey. Certain lights tell thos who are waiting on shore that a pares of "dope” (has been thrown overboart The parcel is so constructed that i’ 'floats easily and prominently, and t fast launch comes out of the shadow, and picks it up. It is a simple matte: to get the drug from the Queenslam coast to the big dealers in Sydney. A< the same time Sydney gets la r ge sup plies direct, and the Customs author), ties find it necessary to keep a constant vigil. So fa r this year opium and cocaine worth thousands of pound have been seized by the Customs mei from ships in Sydney. The cunning of tihe Chinese is proverbial, and the searchers have always to be on the alert for new ruses. Bilgf tanks, inner recesses of the engine room, tunnels, walls, doors, ventilators and bunkers ar© .searched, and it i very seldom that an Eastern vesc? arrives without the discovery of cor traband drugs. 'One of the bigg '- f .hauls kvas made recently when : searcher became suspicious of the ho' low sound of the concrete bottom of r locker used by one of the crew. H f smashed the concrete,- and discover 275 tins of opium, valued at (On another occasion opium was form in a large coffee tin under tens of coal Suitcases with false bottoms are common.

The 'Customs authorities have rearor to believe that the opium trade is now •w e ll under control, but they are les satisfied with regard to the more dangerous drug, cocaine. Cocaine is l e s bulky than opium, and for that reasor it is easier to smuggle. Enormovs pro fit s are made, from cocaine, ranging to £IOO an ounce, and the problem facing the authorities is indeed a difficult one. Co-operation by Eastern Government- under the- League of Notions agreement relating to the drug trade seems to be. the only solution.