BIG OPIUM HAUL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 77, 27 June 1928, Page 5

BIG OPIUM HAUL

DRAMATIC! MOTOR CHASE. DUEL WITH REVOLVERS. LONDON, May 15. A fast motor boat carrying 6001 b. of opium was captured at night after a dramatic chase by a special police boat in Marseilles Harbour. Marseilles is the largest centre in Europe for smuggled opium. Remarkable revelations concerning the traffic which is entirely in the hands of a mysterious Chinaman known as Le Pere, were published. So far the police have tailed in ; thejr constant efforts to trap the Chinese "drug king" and his agents; but it is believed that their latest coup will lead to important developments in the war against drug smugglers. For several weeks detectives had been watching a mysterious motorboat which occasionally made night trips to various parts of the harbour. They decided to follow her, and the fast police boat Argus was kept in. readiness. DUEL WITH REVOLVERS. Then the mysterious motor-boat Avas seen leaving the Joliette Dock, and, after stopping for a few ; minutes pear a steamer, continued its course. Detectives who had been watching from the Argus took the same' direction. Noticing that they were being followed, the men on the motor-boat increased speed and an exciting rac e between th e two craft followed. At one moment the two boats were but 50 yards from each other. The police fired revolver shots, ordering the fugitives to stop. But the latter, instead of obeying, fired back at the police. Volleys continued to be exchanged, but the fugitives were able to gain speed. At last they ran their boat ashore at a deserted point of the old docks, and escaped in the darkness before the police boat reached the spot. "In the abandoned motor-boat the police found several parcels containing opium, large quantities ot cigars, cigarettes, matches and silk. AH the goods, as well as the b oat which bears the name of Wilson 'were seized by the police. _ The owner of the Wilson was questioned by detectives, tfe .aid his boat had been hired from him some time ago by a visiotr, who 'used her during the day as a pleas'ure boat to make excursions; he was not aware that his boat was being used at night for smuggling.