EXCITING POLICE RAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 10

EXCITING POLICE RAID.

CHINESE AND OPIUM. HEAVILY BARRICADED HOUSE CONSTABLES FORCE ENTRY. OCCUPIER FINED £IOO. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday.

A party of police had a strenuous time last evening forcing an entrance into a barricaded house in Allen Street, As a result of the raid four Chinese, all described as laundrymen, appeared before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Ah Wing, aged 41, was fined £IOO and costs, in default three months' imprisonment, on a charge that being the occupier of the premises he permitted the smoking of opium. Sing Lee, aged 34, Ywe Shing, aged 52, and Ah Yee, aged 36, were each fined £2O and costs, in default one month's imprisonment on charges of being found without lawful excuse on premises used for the purpose of smoking opium.

When two of the constables were striving to effect an entrance to the house from the roof oi the verandah last evening one fell to the ground and another constable severely cut his leg when trying to clamber through a win-, dow.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that last evening Sergeant Leckie and Constables Dunn, Siinmonds, Bell and Best went to the premises, No, 39, Allen Street. The doors were locked and Sergeant Leckie demanded admittance which was refused. An attempt was then made to break in. There was a considerable commotion inside and it was found that the premises were barricaded in an extraordinary manner. Windows and doors were covered with sheets of iron and bolted with large iron bolts. The kitchen door was bolted and had three locks. Attempts were made to break in at several points but failed at first. The sergeant 'and Constables Simmonds and Dunn attacked a window and after a time were able to peer into one of the rooms. They saw the four accused gathering things lying about and piling them on a fire. . In the meantime Constables Dunn and Bell directed their attention to a window at the rear of the upper storey. By breaking away the woodwork they were able to make a hole big enough to clamber in. The four Chinese were found in the kitchen where the smell of opium permeated the air. Sergeant Leckie smothered the fire and from the fireplace recovered opium pipes, lamps and other paraphernalia. A watch had been kept on the premises a few nights previously and one evening 41 Chinese were seen to enter. The police were, therefore, not fortunate in the raid, although it would no doubt serve as a warning to others. • "The appearance of the accused.," continued the senior sergeant, "shows that the smoking of opium is not confined to the older Chinese as' people thought. Some of these are comparatively young, so it would appear that Chinese of all ages are taking it on." Mr. Haslam said that Ah Wing, as occupier of the premises, accepted full responsibility. He said the goods belonged to him and he was the only one smoking. The others had gone to him for food and just happened to be there when the police arrived. Accused were of a low type, said counsel. Ah Wing was the only one who could speak English.

To Ah Wing the magistrate pointed out the seriousness of the offence and imposed a fine of £IOO. The others were each fined £2O.