DEFIANT SMUGGLERS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3263, 21 February 1931, Page 3

DEFIANT SMUGGLERS

THE COASTGUARD FLOUTED.

BRANDY FIVE SHILLINGS A BOTTLE.

A serious increase in smuggling along considerable stretches of the Irish coast is causing grave alarm to the Irish Free State Revenue Commissioners.

There is evidence that wines and spirits, tobacco, laces, and other taxable commodities are being imported into the country duty free in large quantities. In several Irish villages it is possible to purchase French brandy at 5s a bottle and good cigars at 10s a box.

Recently (states a London Sunday Chronicle correspondent) I encountered a foreigner in a west coast hotel who, after a few cautious "feelers," offered me brandy and cigars at the prices mentioned. All the stuff, he added, was being smuggled in by French owners of motor fishing smacks.

Apparently these men have Irish agents who are willing to take the risk entailed. There are 300 bleak and inhospitable miles of coast along the southern and western seaboard admirably suited t 6 the requirements of "free traders."

There are innumerable deep and sheltered creeks, and, though the existing revenue forces are smart, it would require a force of coastguards ten times larger than the one that at present exists to keep adequate watch on the coast. The Free State Government's revenue craft number less than a dozen petrol launches and cutters.

One other profitable side-line of the smugglers I discovered the other day by accident. In another hotel within a few miles of the one where I met the avowed smuggler I noticed a magnificent radio set of French make. The landlord, to whom I had been been talking about smuggling, saw that I was admiring the set. He smiled at me and winked broadly. " Yes," he said," " that, too, came in without paying a penny import duty."