COCAINE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17229, 8 April 1930, Page 7

COCAINE

BIG PARCEL SEIZED SYDNEY DRUG BUREAU HAUL SYDNEY. March 2(5. Officers of Hie police drug bureau— Detective-Sergeant Wickham and Detective S. Thompson —with Sergeant Jennings yesterday seized the biggest parcel of cocaine ever captured in the police campaign against the illicit sale and use of the drug. There were 15 luz. packets, enough to make many hundreds of pounds’ worth' of 1 ‘ 5s sniff s,” as it is sold to unfortunate addicts, and more than Sviluev Hospital would use in a whole yea r. A Chinese and a white man wore arrested and charged with having ■been in possession of the drug. The police believe that at last they may be able to supply the League of Nations with information as to where Ihe cocaine is distributed from. L) a Central European country, it is supposed, is an illicit, narcotic organisation, supplying cocaine to trailers in Australia and perhaps all over the world.

During i!ii‘ ]>;ist few years, the police, assist ml I>y seven 1 legal penalties, have attempted to stamp out the Ciieaiiie traliie. -Many persons ha\e been heavily lined, and many have been committed to gaol without the option ot paying a fine, but it has on l\' resulted in diminishing rather than slopping tin* t ralii I '. her tin’ past month, working almost day and night, Detective-Sergeant Wickham and Detective Thompson have been endeavoring to find the wholesale trader or traders existing in the city. They concentrated upon this task ratin'!' than seel; small “runners” or distributors. Dozens of men and women were surreptitiously shadowed and promises, in several suburbs were constantly watched, particular vigilance being maintained after the arrival in Sydney of certain oversea vessels.

Yesterday several plain's were visited, ami then the police officers raided a small shop in lionrke street, where they came upon a Chinese talking to a white mail. Doth men were detained and soaichod, and then were .formally arrested and charged. The cocaine which was seized was contained in t hiii, easily coneoalablo 1 oz. pack (Its so as to escape the < ustoms searchers.