WAR ON SMUGGLING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20626, 29 May 1935, Page 5

WAR ON SMUGGLING.

Speedboat Fleet in Course of Construction. BRITISH PROBLEM. Extremely heavy fines imposed upon persons convicted of smuggling dutiable goods into England by air and otherwise 'indicate the determination of the British authorities to check the “ bootlegging ” which recent discoveries have shown to be greatly on the increase. According to the report of the commissioners for Customs and Excise there were 7110 seizures of contraband goods last year, and over 3000 persons were convicted. The penalties recovered amounted to £20.202. as compared with £15.017 in the previous year. For the purpose of fighting the “ rum runners ” more effectively, the Government is to build a number of speedboats, and a sum of £57.200 has been included in the Excise and Customs estimates for the ensuing twelve months. While such goods as lace, silk, scent and watches form a large part of the consignments that enter the country without payment of duty, it is known that there exists also an enormous trade in spirits. Certain syndicates are engaged in this enterprise and they must be netting thousands a year from their unlawful business. Investigations have revealed the existence of an organisation which has representatives both in 'England and at many Continental ports. With such a vast amount of tonnage laid up, it is easy to charter a small vessel at very low cost; indeed, some shipowners are prepared to let their craft almost for nothing in order to save the cost of maintenance. British distillers, who, of course, know nothing of the illegal business, supply quantities of whisky in the ordinary way of trade. With no dutv payable upon it the price is round about 2s 8d per bottle. The cargo »g consigned to an agent (one of the confederates), and in due time is placed in the bonded warehouse of a foreign port. Shortly afterwards it is withdrawn for re-export. The completion of the ship’s papers is a simple matter and there is nothing in the transaction that arouses sus-

picion. With the same liquor aboard the craft steams for a British port, and, with the aid of fast motor-boats that form part of the organisation’s equipment, the cargo is taken to isolated creeks along the coast. From there it is removed by car to the “ receivers,” who find a ready market for the spirits. The price charged, while yielding a big profit to the sellers, is much below that at which whisky may be purchased normally. The vessels engaged in the traffic are manned by crews who, for the risk they run. share in the profits of the enterprise. Craft specially designed to cope with the traffic are now in course of construction, and more are to be laid dowft. The staff employed ip the campaign is to be augmented, and a sum of £BO,OOO is allocated for their salaries. In addition to these measures the regulations at the ports are to be tightened up, and extra precautions taken to prevent smuggling. So far as the carriage of contraband by sea is concerned, negotiations are to be opened with Continental authorities for the purpose of securing joint action against it.