EXCITING OPIUM RAID

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17951, 1 December 1932, Page 12

EXCITING OPIUM RAID

DEN IN THE FIJI HILLS SMART WORK BY POLICE SUVA, Nov. 15. An interesting story of a police raid upon a Chinese opium den situated on the highest point in the hill country adjoining the Tumavua Valley, some four or five miles from Suva, was related in tho Police Court yesterday, when seven Chineso appeared to answer charges connected with the smoking of opium. Lamps, pipes and jars of opium secured by tiio raiding force were exhibited in court. Inspector Kermode, of the Fiji Constabulary, related how he and some carefully selected Fijian constables climbed up tho Tomavua Valley at 3 o’clock on a Sunday morning, surrounded tho house, and lay in hiding in tho thick scrub near the building. They lay there until 11 o’clock, when, after several Chinese had entered the house, they made their successful rgid. At 10 o'elude a watchman had come out of the house and taken his place in a little sheltered retreat that had been specially built for him. The house itself commanded a magnificent view of the surrounding country, being built upon the highest hill in the valley. The watchman, from his place of concealment, also commanded all approaches. The watchman, however, was taken completely by surprise, the barefooted Fijians being on top of him before ho could give warning. An attempt at a struggle was quickly subdued. As the police entered the house several Chinese escaped by bursting through the reed walls of tine house, but they; were followed into the scrub and quickly overpowered, although attempting to put up a fight. As a result of the raid fines totalling £125 were imposed. Fines to tlio amount of £BO were paid, but several Chinese elected to serve terms of imprisonment.