AN OPIUM RAID.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 14

AN OPIUM RAID.

SEIZURE OF QUANTITIES OF THE I „ DRUG. For «o&ie time it has been suspected^ by the police that opium-smoking was being earned on to a large extent by Ch>nese residents in Dunedin, and on the 22nd, acting under the power? conferred by the Opium Importation Prohibition Act of last session, the detectives decided 1 to make a raid on gome suspected houses. Accordingly, shortly after 4 o'clock, Chief Detective Campbell and Detectn cs Hill and Kennedy quietly proceeded to Stafford street and suddenly made their appearance at the door of a tenement occupied by one Tom Quin. When, they entered they found five men engaged in smoking opium, while others were lying about the room more or les 3 under the influence of the drug. Naturally the -unexpected appearance of the officers of the lawhad a somewhat startling effect upon the occupants of the room who had retained! sufficient consciousness to realise what their appearance meant, and Chinamen dodged and ran in all directions ; but they were in. a trap, and their mimes wero jotted down. The place was then searched, and a quantity of the drug secured, together with a number of opium pipps. The lav does not make the possession or smoking ol opium a criminal offence, and accordingly summonses will be issued against those caught. The detectives next proceeded to a place occupied by a Chinaman named Pun Lun, and walked in as unexpectedly as in die other instance. Here two nieu were found indulging in tho 'liuir, and their pipes and opium were .accordingly prized. The detectives proceeded to search the place, and though cunning plocca of ' conci-alment had bean selected quantities of opium were found. The Chinamen philosophically realised that they ,were caught, and resignedly &aw their names entered in the books. The next suspected house was that of Joe Duck, in Walker street, and this was reached by the raiders about 5 o'clock. Evidently the occupant had had some premonition of danger, as, though there was trace of recent; smoking, no one was to be found. However, further quantities of opium were found concealed on the premises, and were taken into poEtoes'ion of by the detective?. One of the men had visited rhis house earlier in the day and had discovered two men there with opium pipes. The proceedings caused considerable consternation amongst the Chinese residents of this section of the town, and for about an hour Celestials could be seen hurrying hither and thither like bees from an overturned live. Proceedings will be immediately issued against the men found in the houses by the detectives. Altogether opium to the ralue of £20 was seized, and over 40 pipes, valued at £16. The defectives are to be congratulated on their carefully planned md executed movement.