ALCOHOL SMUGGLING IN PARIS.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 4

ALCOHOL SMUGGLING IN PARIS.

si>.iit; i.\c.ENiO!.".s devices. Smuggling alcohol into Paris pays well, ,-is.llic duty on each hire (or uiiart.) amounts to lit. Joe. I hough no one can enter Paris'until he satislies the Customs uiuhoritii.i lhat he lias no contraband articles hidden on his person, and no vehicle is admitted until it i- "!"irongiily searched, thousands of gallons of spirit are annually surreptitiously introduced into the city, where it is readily disposed of in makers of perfumes and other*. Ali alcohol seined at the harriers is periodically sold by the municipal authorities, one-half ol ihe proceeds going info the. city funds and the other 'half divided between the Customs officers, which causes the men to lie extraordinarily vigilant in their endeavors to capture ohendcrs. Some of the methods employed by the -iiiugghug fraternity are extremely ingenious, and the cammed apparatus stored at the Hotel do Viile forms quite in interesting museum. For months men disguised as masons, brieklayeis, etc., carried wooden beams that were hollow and contained large quantities of spirit through the gates without beintr suspected, and then ihe, fraud was only discovered by aopidonl. One day, iust a- the hr-l- of ' a squad passed through he stumbled and fell, and one of ihe "octroi"' men went to his assistance. Much to tin, official's surprise, lirecflv the man had gained his feet he tied, leaving the phiuk behind linn, bis companions" also taking to their heels. I ho reason for their High! was soon apparent, tor from the end of beam iozed .1 si ream of liquid which was found to bo alcohol. Double-hot mined bottles and other •■'essels arc- common contrivances. To avoid .-jUspieioii :he iop portion is Idled 'lith some hociagc such as wine or beer, which is dulv d-clarcd A hollow iiorso-cnilar is another favorite dodge, and , v. ,i double coffins hate, been used. The I.Hor trie!; was a!,- discovered by accident, due evening mi open hearse ,va, pa- nig ihrough the gales it hen ii -Hii'-h ■pgaiik-t mi obstruction, causing

Ihe wheel lo break. The vehcilc ovei-ttinii-1, the .-i-lu and bursting ...,...„ the c.iliin. which was lon,id to contain a large ipiantitv of spirit. A o-rv corpulent, well-dro- -., d old ■;e;iil.-i.iau wa- ob-.-rred t.i pass through tile eates ivilil frequent, regularity, which exict.-d ibe all.-..1i0n of olliciais ami lie was watched Due dav (he--•lopped and i.itesl huicl him, with the resuli that under his iit!iii,-tetil;i!e white waislcoat was i'eiiml concealed ia :-. body-hill over a gallon of spil'il. it was eoimaied lltai the d:;;v on tile spirits h.. had -.mu.'-.1e.l liu-o.igh before h-iug ■■;;ti----hi tni|s| h-ive atiie'.uited to tiieu--.-.ie!-; of pound,-. la Ibis cotiiie.-i ion women tire grcsi oireiidei-K. and el cotirse are vei-v 'diffi'•ult to delect. In numerous instaiie-s ■•vnieeii have l.tvu etittgiil with immense ijUautilies of spirit concealed under their clothing. Thev dr. not a-: a rule ■ittcilipt io pass Ihroiigh ihe gale.,, how. Ivor, hiti colli.' into Paris ly sjeamhaai. and ai'ter p.assittg ('haienlou or Bercy ai- :':tir!v- ,cfc from d-icetion. Oiher articles I'rr-tittentlv employed by iho smv.irgh-r,- are lh.- iiuiocenl-lnoking tall hat, a mir-i'- p.n" folio win, hollow -overs, hollow ennches. and. hollow •h-cii-suleil bonis "ich as cripoles wear. In a rcee,.; in- io- a ive< ptaclo for spirit was found ex.-cediuclv eunninglv eant rived in the box -.cat of a small .waggonette.