TRAFFIC IN DRUGS

Southland Times, Issue 22497, 6 December 1934, Page 16

TRAFFIC IN DRUGS

MASTER MIND’S CLEVERNESS. DUPING THE AUTHORITIES. The "Drug Squad” at Marseilles was recently duped by the Master Mind of the Drug Traffickers. He is known as Le Pere, but who he is nobody, except perhaps his immediate lieutenants, knows. , The Commissaire of the Drug Squad had just returned to his office in the Place de la Joliette after the seizure of 20001 b. of opium and the arrest of five smugglers when the telephone ran S“Le Pere speaking,” a voice informed him. Cynically Le Pere thanked the commissaire for the arrests, explaining that he had arranged the coup, as the agents were men he wanted put out of the way. “While you have been busying yourselves over that small haul, Le Pere went on, “we have just landed nearly five tons of opium. I thought you would like to know,” he added, and slammed down the receiver. The “Drug Squad” realize that their quarry consists of some very astute brains. The “cruising cripple” is one of the squad’s recent captures. This man, whose legs were twisted beneath him. would be carried on an ornate mattress to luxury cruising liners. The man said he was a rich Frenchman who had met with a motoring accident. For many months he lived this life of luxury, until one day a newly transferred police officer recognized him as old Henri, who used to beg for alms outside Notre Dame, in Paris. Henri was searched, and in his mattress was found a large quantity of heroin. It was revealed that one of the “drug kings” had selected him for luxury-liner smuggling, realizing that his affliction would allay suspicion.