POLICE SEIZE OPIUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 10

POLICE SEIZE OPIUM

ARREST OF A CHINESE SEARCH OF SHOP FOLLOWS DRUG CONCEALED IN A WALL A quantity of prepared opium, ready for smoking and neatly wrapped in small paper packets, was seized by a party of police last evening when they arrested a Chinese in Grey's Avenue and later searched a shop where he had been living. The Chinese will he charged in the Police Court to-day with importing the drug and with heing found in possession of prepared opium. The police party, which comprised De-tective-Sergeant Mellugh, Detective Brady, Sergeant Thompson and Constable Chalcraft, went to Grey's Avenue shortly after 8.30. Soori they saw the accused, who was kept under observation. He was seen to enter a shop, occupied by a number of Chinese, 'and the police waited near the door for his return. In ten minutes the Chinese emerged and was immediately accosted. Ho was then arrested and taken to the city police station, where a search revealed a numbci of packets of opium. The party then returned to tlie shop with the Chinese and made a thorough search of the premises for over an hour. In the basement at the back of the shop a tobacco tin-containing packets of opium was discovered concealed behind a loose brick in the wall. The search was then abandoned, the opium being seized and removed to the police station. The total amount found was 21 packets, each of which was valued at about 7s 6d and contained sufficient opium for four or five pipes. After accused had been taken to the police station a secpnd time a number of other Chinese gathered and offered to provide bail, but this was not granted.