LADY SMUGGLERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144086, 3 May 1913, Page 7

LADY SMUGGLERS.

ON CHANNEL BOATS. LONDON, March 21. A recent case of saccharine smuggling by a woman recalls that tho fierce delights of endeavouring to outwit the revenue officers are frequently experienced by women travellers by the cross-Ohannol steamers, and some clever devices have been evolved by them in this respect (says the London Daily News). THE HOLLOW BABY, Probably tho cleverest device—because the most.successful—that was ever adopted for this purpose was that of a lady whose constant travelling by the Channel steamers, carrying with her a beautifully dressed baby, at length attracted the interested attention of the Customs. The infant was noticed to bo remarkably quiet at all times, no •matter what might be tho state of the weather. When investigation was made it was found that this exceedingly good “baby” was a -cry large doll with a hollow body, w.neh contained n sufficiently largo quantity of dutiable articles to make each double Channel journey a very profitable transaction. That lady's bright idea had cost the revenue a considerable sum, and Customs officials speak of it as one of the most difficult methods of smuggling to discover. HIDING A DOG. The abilities of tho female smuggler by the Channel steamers nowadays appear to bo greatly confined bo getting lap-dogs safely landed, and thus escape three months' parting from their pets. Under the Importation of Dogs Order. which was passed with the object of assisting to stamp out hydrophobia, any dogs landed at a Channel port from the Continent has to be segregated at a veterinary surgeon’s for three mouths in order to prevent any risk of this dread disease being spread by these “imports.” The adored Fitly and Poinpey are in tho same category with ail their kin and upon the Customs officers is east the duty of preventing any smuggling m of the.se pets. To avoid having to«cl cel are .themselves possessed of a dog, ladies have resorted to all sorts of devices, and no doubt in a certain number of cases they are successfill. But the lynx-eyed Customs men who cross on the steamers nr are waiting on the landing-stages discover many cases, and the result is an appearance before the local magistrates for the mistress, followed by. a fairly heavy fine, and. worst of .all, Fido’s enforced imprisonment at the vefc.’s. NOT PLAYING THE GAME. Sometimes a Customs officer is helped by a dog notifying its presence just at a critical moment by giving a yelp. In one such ease a lady had placed a pet dog in a bag which she had attached to her waist under her clothing. The steamer had nearly reached Dover when a smothered bark attracted tho attention of a Customs man. He questioned the Ipdy and was not satisfied with her denials, the result being that lie handed her over to a female searcher at Dover Pier, when poor Fido was fetched from his hiding-place in a semi-suffocated condition. In other eases small dogs have been drugged before being taken on board in their mistresses’ handbags, or muffs, or placed under their coats. Recovery from the effects of the drug before Dover was reached has in various cases caused this scheme also to “gang aglcy,” with the result that several pounds have had to be dishutsod in the local police court, and the pot has had three months’ change at the seaside. Customs officers say that fair smugglers frequently attract attention to themselves by nervous movements. In some instances mal-de-mer has upset the lady’s best-laid plans, and tho dog has been discovered by a stewardess, who has whispered a word to the Customs officer. Undoubtedly much the safest, as well as the wisest, way for a lady who does not wish her pet to experience three months’ detention at a vet.’s is to leave him at home while she is holiday-making on the Continent. SWATHED IN TOBACCO. Ladies have been known to smuggle other dutiable articles, even including tobacco. In one case a lady was almost swathed in tobacco when examined by the female searcher. They are more frequently detected in the smuggling of scents, but in any such cases the infliction of the treble duty, and confiscation of the articles is a good deterrent against repeating such attempts. Peculiarly enough, although lace has not been a dutiable article for very many years past, there are many ladies who do not know this, and resort to all sorts of subterfuges to bring home “bargains” in this article which they have secured on the Continent. Very frequently these devices are quite patent to the Customs officials, who have a little fun with the fair ones, who think they are cheating the revenue and who no doubt feel quite pleased with themselves when they are allowed to pass through, after some pointed questions which have no doubt set them quaking as to discovery. But, to the credit of the ladies, it should be recorded that the nfimber of cases in which they are caught smuggling is very considerably less than the number of male offenders. To conclude by a further reference to saccharine smuggling. Customs officers who are old hands assert that they can tell by the peculiar sickly odour when anyone has any quantity of saccharine about them.