OPIUM WORTH 700

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 4

OPIUM WORTH 700

TWO CHINESE ARRESTED

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINES Stated to be the largest quantity confiscated by the police for many years, about 71b of prepared opium, was produced in the Police- Court yesterday when two Chinese, Chen Sung Yuan, seaman, aged 28, and Nee Ah Kan, labourer, aged 26, appeared before Mr. J. Morling, S.M., charged with having the drug in their possession. The accused Yuan pleaded guilty. Mr. Henry represented the accused Kan, who pleaded not guilty. In producing the opium as evidence, Senior-Detective Walsh said that its present black market value was in the vicinity of £7OO. Detective Ma hood said that in company with Detective Duncan he followed the two accused from the corner of Wellesley Street West and Nelson Street until they entered a house in Nelson Street. Yuan was carrying a sugar sack, while his companion hau a brown paper parcel. Jhe two detectives knocked at a door on the first floor and witness was admitted alter some delay. The accused were seated in the room and the occupier of the apartment was also present. A search revealed the two parcels under a bed. Witness was told that they belonged to the two accused, but later Yuan said all the opium was his. Mr. Henry submitted that his client had not actually been in possession of the opium in the terms of the Dangerous Drugs Act, under which he was charged. II is client would say that he had been nskod to take care of the opium merely as a carrier. There was no suggestion of ownership. The Magistrate: hi that case, there was nothing to stop accused from calling the true owners as witnesses. The accused were fined £3O eacli, to ho paid immediately, in default two months' imprisonment. The opium was forfeited.