SEIZURE OF OPIUM

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2191, 2 August 1928, Page 5

SEIZURE OF OPIUM

SHIP'S STEWARD FINED £2OO. TAXI OWJNER TO PAY £25. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Twelve tins of opium, valued at about £240 were seized by two customs officials on the Queen's wharf last evening when they searched one of the Marama's stewards, Harry Thomas Downes, aged 38, and a taxi proprietor, Cecil Wallingford Brown, aged 49. To-day Downes and Brown appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, the former being charged with importing prepared opium and the other accused with having been found in possession of prepared opium. Mr E. T. W. Maclaurin, collector of customs, conducted the presscution and Mr W. Perry appeared for the two accused. Downes admitted the charge made against him, but Brown pleaded not guilty. Mr Maclaurin said that about 7 p.m. Brown and Downes were stopped when they were coming from the Ma.rama by two customs searchers and twelve alb tins of opium were seized. Eight tins were found in the taxi driver's possession and Downes had the other four. Brown's taxi was left outside the wharf gates. Downes was fined £2OO, in default six months' imprisonment, and Brown £25, in default one month's imprisonment. Both men were allowed a week in which to pay the fine.