VAST DRUG TRAFFIC.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17929, 3 July 1930, Page 6

VAST DRUG TRAFFIC.

SMUGGLER TELLS OF TRIPS TO ENGLAND

ißevelations of the alarming extent of the trade of smuggling opium into Engtefid"-were made to the Sunday Chronicle by an Anglo-Indian, who has himself illegally brought into England 5001 b of opium, valued at £25,000. For ten years the smuggler, whose name, of course, cannot be revealed, held a poistion with the Indian Government, which gave him contact with the controlling heads of vast opium trading organisations. Owing to the facilities he possessed and his personal experience of the manufacture of opium he was approached by Pathan opium kings, who asked him to undertake the duties of smuggling carrier. The "opium kings" paid first class fares and hotel expenses and sent him to London. Included in his baggage

were two brass images in packingcases, and in the base of each image 801 b of opium was concealed. On the boat he made the acquaintance of a wealthy and influential nabob, and when the boat docked at Tilbury he managed to get the two brass images safely through the Customs by placing them among the In-

dia official's luggage. The smuggler then proceeded to an address given to him by his employers and there he was greeted by a Chinese man, who concealed his real business by pretending to trade in carvings.

"When I handed to the Chinaman the packages of opium, the smugg-

ler related, "his eyes glittered and he grabbed the bundles eagerly. Then he smiled rather delightfully and made me very welcome. I was asked if I cared to partake of some opium and on my consenting the Chinaman clapped his hands and two assistants appeared.

"To my intense astonishment they drew out from a sunken recess a tool cupbpard, which revealed a passageway down a narrow corridor. Halting before a door, the head Chinaman coughed three times and an opening appeared noiselessly. I was then ushered into a small, low, room, very dimly lit. "Sprawled upon divans were seven 1 or eight half-dazed women, some of them gorgeously dressed and glittering with jewels. At. a 'table in the corner two well-dressed men there drinking whisky. After consuming my opium pill (the size of a large pea) I decided to retire, and wished them all "good-night". I gave my address to my Chinese host and left. "As I turned the corner I was tapped on the shoulder and turned round \ to see two men I had observed in the ] opium den. 'We are chemists,' said one of them, 'have you any opium to j sell?"

" 'No,' I replied, tout I can bring you some in six months.' I promised to see them again in the West End and left them. Later the Chinaman gave me a 'cheque for £SOO, but remembering the offer of two 'chemists' I decided to enter the smuggling business on my own account. "The result was that any next trip was made for my own benefit. I carried a large quantity of opium in the false bottoms of trunks specially made for me. I sold it to the two chemists for £SO a pound, and they gave me a bonus of £IOO for safe transmittance.

"On my next trip I delivered a consignment of 801 b to a man in one of the best known London hotels. As he afterwards sent the stuff to New York one can surmise the enormous profits on'the trade." "Altogether in a few trips I have smuggled into London, Southamption, and Liverpool, opium to the extent of 4501 b. to 5001 b., to the value of £26,000, but this has only brought me down to poverty. I made huge profits but I spent all the money. Henceforward I intended to lead a safe and quiet life."

The second course of the tabd'hote was being served. "What is this leathery stuff?" demanded the diner.

■ "That, sir, is fillit of sole," replied the waiter.

"Take it away," said the diner, and see if you can't get me a nice, tender piece from the upper part of the boot, with the buttons removed."

Said a Wellington man to his tobacconist -n hem he popped in for a cigar the other morning, "What the difference between this toasted tobacco 1 hear so much about, and the ordinary kind?" "All the difference in the world, sir," smilingly replied the smoke merchant. "Toasting gives the tobacco its quite distinctive flavour and bouquet. More than that it helps largely to rid it of its nicotine. You can't smoke more than say, a couple of pipes of practially any imported brand you like to mention, with any relish. Too much nicotine in them. But you can smoke toasted tobacco all day long without losing your appetite for it. Can't harm you either. It's toasted, and that's the long and the short of it. Brands? Oh, there are half-a-dozen more or less. I sell a lot of Riverhead Gold, but quite as much Cavendish and Navy Cut. Old smokers generally prefer Cut Plug No. 10. It's just a matter of taste." The customer bought a tin of Navy Cut "to see if he liked it." He will.