DRUG TRAFFIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 April 1928, Page 5

DRUG TRAFFIC

ALARMING PROPORTIONS POSITION IN SYDNEY REVELATION'S BY F'Of.lCF, COMMISSIONER United Press Assoeiat ion -By Electric Telegraph Copyrisrht ißeroived 12tli April, 8.55 a.m.) SVDNKV. Tins Day. As a result of I lu- seizure recent ly OS drugs smuggled into Sydney from thLast, ilif Commissioner of Roliee is input; llio need hi lightening up the laws against the distribution of cocaine aiiil other drugs which, In' alleges, is glowing in alarming proportions and is becoming a serious menace. He jn.jnts out that, the Police efforts towards its suppression are handicapped in thai v. nil.- (lie laws of New South Wales provide iieavy penalties, (he lav..- of some ..Mi.'j- Stales are less stringent. They would not he able to deal with the evil ell'ectively until it. was made a Kedcral matter, with uniform legislation for the whole of the Commonwealth. 'The drugs, ho said, were manufactured and doctored down in Java and Singapore, and thence are smuggled into Australia. Dealing with the police efforts to suppress the traffic, the CoininissiotuM said they had found Women selling co lame in the lounges of fashionable hotels right, under (ho .-yes of the management. They had found men living in luxury on rhe.'saie of cocaine to unlVrrtunate girls. Soinc of them had ill their charge do/ens i i subordinates who sold drugs in small (juantitios ti> addicts. Coeainn was circulated in all i|Uarlers of the city. It was distributed from the palatial Hats in Darlinghurst and from shuns in Surrey Hills. ""Dealers in drugs w.-rc surrounded by gangs of criminals who h*»ped to spend the profits. DEPARTMENT ALIVE TO SITUATION* (Received 12th .April. 10.35 a.m.) SVDNKV. This Day Referring to the prevalence of the drug traffic. Mr Pratten. the. Minister of Customs, said thai with legislation in the other States similar to that in New South Wales, the position might, lie. considerably improved, but, notwithstanding the most rigid precautions, it. was impossible for the Customs Department to police every avenue of importation. The Depart merit- was, however, fully alive to its responsibilities, and was leaving no stone unturned effectively to control the importation and disposal of drugs.

Mr Theodore announced his intention of having the matter discussed when the House of Representatives met.