RAID ON OPIUM DEN

Southland Times, Issue 23301, 10 September 1937, Page 8

RAID ON OPIUM DEN

WINDOW HEAVILY BARRICADED

SIX CHINESE APPEAR IN

COURT

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 9. Chopping their way through ? heavily barricaded window on the second story of a building in Grey’s Avtnue on Wednesday detectives entered the premises and seized a quantitv of prepared opium, opium seconds and pipes. The detectives, who climbed a ladder placed on to a veranda in front of the building, had considerable difficulty in entering. The window was barred inside with inch planking, backed with three uprights and four cross pieces, of three-inch by two-inch timber reinforced with wire. A hole was cut and one detective went and opened the door for the others. The doors were all reinforced on the inside.

As a result of the raid six Chinese appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr Wyvern Wilson, -S.M. Five of them, Gin On, a laundryman, Wong Mow, aged 35 years, Ah Lee, a gardener,, aged 25 years, Ah Sai, a gardener, aged 45 years, and Shim Lind, pleaded guilty to charges of being found on premises for the purpose of smoking opium. “The premises are well known and have figured in the court before,” said the Magistrate. ‘The place was barricaded and they knew the risk they were running.” Gin On and Wong Mow, who had been before the court previously, were each fined £2O and costs. Ah Lee, Ah Sai and Shim Lind were each fined £l2 10/- and costs.

Stanley Chin Horne, a laundryman, aged 47 years, was charged with permitting his premises to be used for smoking opium and with being found in possession of prepared opium. He was remanded, bail being fixed at £lOO.