OPIUM SMUGGLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19737, 13 March 1926, Page 12

OPIUM SMUGGLING.

CHINESE TRICKSTERG. THEIR LATEST METHODS. (Exoji Oor Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 5. yj an v have been the methods devised bv Chinese smugglers of opium into Australia of getting their contraband past the eves of the vigilant Customs officers. That ‘they sometimes succeed is tribute to their ingeniousncss rather than slackness on the officials’ part. But they failed in their latest and most amazing scheme to land the drug in Sydney. When the steamer St. Albans arrived in Sydnev last week, the usual thorough search was made for contraband, rso opium was discovered, but by some means suspicion was roused, just as the search was ending, in the freezing chamber ot the steamer. The attention of the searchers was attracted by what appeared an outsize in fore-quarters of beef. Touch proved it to be stiller than meat should be, and when it was prodded by steel skewers, it made a sound that docs not usually emanate from dead cattle. On examination it was revealed that the hessian package posing as a forequarter of beef c -taiued not meat, but tins ot choicest onium, so constructed as to resemble meat. Other real carcases, it was found, had been ripped open, and stuffed with the same drug. In all 107 tins of opium, valued at £2OOO, were seized. Each of the tins contained half a pound of the drug. . An inquiry was at once instituted aboard the ship, lint all the diligent cross examination of the Chinese crew failed to produce any more incriminating answer than “No savvy.”