LIQUOR FOR AMERICA

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 27

LIQUOR FOR AMERICA

SMUGGLED FROM AUSTRALIA. IFkom Our Own Correspondent SYDNEY, June 28. There is evidence that huge quantities of liquor—mostly whisky and wine—are being shipped in Sydney on boats bound for American ports, and are afterwards smuggled into the United States.

It is known that since prohibition came into operation in America smuggling has developed on a tremendous scale. Illicit liquor is being poured into the Republic from all directions. It is taken across the border from Canada; there is now an enormous traffic on the Mexican border; there is a complete smuggling organisation m the West Indies, and all sorts of craft put the forbidden stuff ashore on the Atlantic coast; while every sailorman on every ship that touches an American Pacific port is eager to make an ‘‘honest” dollar or two

by carrying liquor ashore. It is said here that the smuggling organisations of the United States are now backed by millions of dollars. The police and Customs officials have been :it work for some time in Sydney watching American steamers, and they are satisfied that a large business is being done by American agents locally in W’hisky and other spirits, and also, to a lesser extent, ; in beer and stout. But there is no law to j prevent anyone placing a cargo of wines ! and spirits on a steamer here, and when

it leaves this port nothing can be done by local officials. There is no doubt that the big shipments that have been noted in this port are part of the big smuggling organisa tion. The liquor appears to reach the American people, and it is suspected that “graft” plays a big part in its transportation. The business of loading the goods on to steamers here is not advertised. There is evidence that it generally finds its way to the wharves and on to the steamers between midnight and darlisrht.

About 1 a.m. on Saturday last a young constable noticed taxis coming up to a certain wharf gate on Circular quay, and sacks of something being unloaded. He investigated, and found they were sacks of bottles of whisky. He did not quite know what his powers were; but, as they were obviously destined for an American steamer, he took a chance, and ordered the lot to the nearest police station. There they are to-day while an argument, in which choice American curses are prominent, rages around them.