INDIAN HAWKER IS FINED £loo.
Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 22. That the efforts of the Customs Department to suppress the smuggling of opium into New Zealand are meeting with some success was evidenced in the Magistrate’s Court to-day when Natha Vittal, an Indian fruit hawker, pleaded guilty to bringing four and a half pounds of opium into the country-. Mr MacLaurin, Collector of Customs, said that Vittal was one of a number of Indians who returned to New Zealand by the Marama on July 20. His luggage was taken to an address in Tory Street, but no arrangements had been made for his lodging there, and his luggage was dumped otit in the back-yard. Apparently- the opium was taken out of one of his cases and hidden in a stable in Sturdee Street, where it was later found by a: Customs officer. “ It is solid opium, worth anything up to £3OO in New Zealand,” said Mr MacLaurin, “ and I ask for a substantial fine. Even if only one or two of these parcels of opium get through the profit on them is sufficient to pay for the fines of those men who may- be caught. Mr Page, S.M., imposed a fine of £IOO.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 5
Word Count
204INDIAN HAWKER IS FINED £l00. Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 5
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