A “PLANT” OF OPIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 15

A “PLANT” OF OPIUM.

AUCKLAND. July 13. On tho arrival of the steamer Caldergrove at Auckland from Philadelphia the Customs officers, in making their usual search, came across six tins of opium and a tin of “yon she” concealed above one of tho ship’s boilers. Tho opium was claimed by a Chinese fireman named Chan Fook, and he was brought before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., this morning on a charge of having had opium in his possession. Mr Ridings stated that the illegal importation of opium from ships that carried Chinese among tho crow was gradually increasing. • Recently tho Customs officials had found 460 tins in a ship that came to Auckland with empty bunkers. Usually it was possible to find very little of the opium, but as the coal and cargo went down, as tho ship was discharged at ports down the coast, tho Chinese got at tho hiding places of- the opium and wanted the stuff ashore. He felt quite sure that it would be found that opium would bo run from this ship at southern ports. Tho six tins of opium contained 360 z, ond_ tho “yen she” (seconds) soz, tho value being about £ls. The accused, through an interpreter, stated that he waa an inveterate opiumeater, a'nd had been so for tho last 20 years. He needed the opium for his own use, and ho could not work without it. The Interpreter: “Ho tells me ho oats and smokos about half an ounce a daj', and ho would dio without it. Tho ‘yen she’ is tho opium cooked for eating. He got the opium from a Chinaman aboard a ship in an English port near America.” His Worship remarked that if accused had declared the opium ho would not have been charged with any offence. He must bo fined £lO0 —tho maximum—which was reduced under the special section to £25, with 22s costs. Mr Ridings mentioned that the accused had £27 pay coming to him, and that if ho did not pay his fins the captain of tho ship would have to outer into a bond for £2OO that tho man would not be left hero. The opium would be forfeited, but the man would probably bo allowed to keep tho “yon sire.”