SMUGGLING OF OPIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 6

SMUGGLING OF OPIUM.

PREVALENCE IN AUCKLAND. RAID ON HINDU SHOP. 'OVER FIVE POUNDS OF DRUG. In spites of the vigilant watch maintained by the Customs Department larga quantities of opium are being smuggled into: New Zealand by a route not yet discovered. It is almost ■ impossibla to stop the 'drug being smuggled into the country in minute quantities, as. it can be hidden in very small receptacles. R«. cent discoveries by the Customs Department show that it is reaching Auc&and in fairly large bulk. ' >■■■:■• Information received led the customs officials to raid a Hindu's. fruit shop in Ponsonby Road on Friday night, and they found over 51b. weight of opium. This is one of the largest seizures for | some time. As a result, three men will I be prosecuted . for being in possession of j opium. The fascination for smuggling opium is helped considerably by the largo profits made out of the transaction. Bought legitimately the retail price of. opium in Auckland is about 10s pea- ounce, but it is known that Asiatics in Auckland have - offered very large sums for the smuggled article. _ >. The quantity of .opium in Auckland is apparently large enough to allow it to be sent from here to other countries, This fact was brought out recently when an Islander, one of the crow of a vessel trading to Auckland, was caught going ashore at Samoa with a parcel containing opium. The native was not aware of the • contents of the parcel, and Stated that it was given to him by a man in Auckland to deliver in Samoa. Nevertheless 1 the native was fined £40 for the* offence.