SMUGGLING “DOPE.”

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1923, Page 14

SMUGGLING “DOPE.”

CLEVER GANG AT WORK. IN AUSTRALIAN PORTS. ’Sydney, June 1. Recent investigations have revealed that a clever gang of drug smugglers is operating in several of the Australian ports. *The result is that the drugs have been reaching certain sections of the community, and that the cocaine or “snow” habit has taken a firm hold. A sequel to the investigations was the appearance in the Melbourne Police Court this week of Henry MdEwen, described by the police as a drug-carrier. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for having in his possession a quantity of cocaine. The police alleged that on searching McEwen they found a small packet containing white crystals in his cigarette packet. They declared that he attempted to sell cocaine to a woman, and that he obtained it from a chemist. The habit has taken a firm hold in the slums. The police state that there Is a carefully organised “ring” supplying the drug. They declare that the ring comprises chemists, and at least one dentist. They also say that drugridden men and women in the slums are easily obtaining small packets of cocaine which they take like snuff.

The master-mind supplying the drug continues to elude them. The man who is responsible for much of organisation of -the ring is an Australian, the police allege, who was until recently, engaged in extensive dealings in a big traffic in England. His London exploits were cut short by a sentence of four months, following a raid by men from Scotland Yard on a fashionable “snow” parlour. Chemists in the traffic ring, the police say, do not enter sales of cocaine in their official poison-books, and when a marked coin is tendered for payment of the drug, it is not put in the cash register.

The cocaine coming into Sydney is said to have been placed on British ships at French ports, and®is landed by agents on the vessels •with comparative ease. It is well known in Sydney that the drug is being landed here. One man who was getting the “snow” from the ships ‘for some time past, actually got ashore recently with several packets in crystal form. Usually he has been getting the drug in packets of powder. This serves to show how much is known concerning the smuggling. Yet the smugglers are too clever to be caught.