COCAINE HAUL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1934, Page 7

COCAINE HAUL

SEIZURE BY DETECTIVES

ILLECT TRAFFIC IN SYDNEY

SYDNEY, August 2

In two raids detectives, who have been engaged on the suppression ot the drug traffic seized 27 bottles of cocaine. The drug, which was in the ivhite powder form, had been manufactured in Germany and smuggled into Australia It was the largest haul

of illict drug for a number of years. The cocaine was found in two butchers’ shops, one at Itedtern and the' other at Darlingluirst. Detectives arrested two men, who were subsequently charged with having had, drugs in their possession. A young police trainee ueined Thomas figured prominently in the police investigations which led up to the raids. Untiring efforts by Detective-ser-geants Wickham and Thompson, of the Drug Bureau, in recent years were rewarded by the arrest of most cf the principals in Sydney’s drug traffic, and the illect trade was kept down to a minimum. In the last few months, however, it was noticed that cocaine was beg'lining to ••circulate again among members of the underworld, particularly among women of disreputable character.

Information came to the ears ot Air Thompson, and patient investigations were commenced to try to trace the cocaine to its source? The services of the young trainee were secured, because lie was not known to members of the underworld as the older detectives wore. ‘ , Tlia cocaine was considered to have a retail value in the illicit trade of hundreds of pounds.