RECORD OPIUM SEIZURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2423, 11 February 1909, Page 2

RECORD OPIUM SEIZURE.

AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER. CUSTOMS PURSUE A STEAMER. / . . After " a chase of a most exciting nature on the harbor last evening (says a “Sydney Morning Herald” of last week).' a party of alleged smugglers in a fast ocean steam launch was overtaken by a band of Customs officials, who succeeded in making a record haul of contraband goods. In all 867 tins Of opium, contained in six sacks, and valued at about £3500 wore ■secured. The steamer Warreember was seized, and her machinery disconnected, and the master of the launch and a Chinaman were placed under arrest. The Eastern and Australasian s.s. Company’s steamer Empire left Sydney at noon for Melbourne in continuation of her voyage from Japan and China, and in .accordance with their usual nractice the Custom officials in their launch watched the departure of the vessel as far as the heads. Hoarding-officers Ford. McManus, and Bra who formed the Customs party, then noticed the steam launch AVarrnember, a vessel of 2S tons, criming outside, and her peculiar movements arroused their susnieions. Ostensibly the Yvarreeinber was engaged in a fishing exursion, and by a circuitous route she followed the Empire down the coast, as though in' search of new fishing grounds, and when about six or seven miles from the heads the launch was noticed to steam right under the stern of the Empire. She only remained in that position for a few minutes, and during that time several parcels were transferred from the big liner to the Warreember. The Customs officers saw that if they gave chase in the open sea the goods, should they be contraband, would be cast overboard. It was therefore resolved to lie in wait until the return of the Warreember to port. On her return journey the Warroem. her waited until about dusk, and then entered the harbor. The Customs officials, without revealing their presence, followed her up the harbor at a safe distance. The Warreember steered a course for the China Navigation Company's Wharf, on the western side of the Circular Quay, where she usually berths, and the Custom’s launch then made a spurt, with the object of catching up to her. Those on the Warreember. for the first time, then realised that they had been watched, and the little steamer was quickly turned round, and .at fullspeed was headed for Blue’s Point, fit hot - 'irsuit the Customs officials followed, but their steam launch was not as fast as that of the sunnosed smugglers. The chase now became exciting, but the officers were handicapped hv a ferry steamer crossing the bows of their launch. The Warreember steamed alongside the wharf at Blue’s Point Roads. When last seen they were travelling at a great pace. A moment later, and before- the Warreember was berthed, the Customs launch was alongside., and the officers sprang on board. On the main deck they found six sacks, all full of tins of opium. There had been no,attempt to conceal the goods—they were not even covered by a tarpaulin, and the mouths of a couple of the sacks were open. Owing to the stoppage of the opium traffic the drug is now at a premium, and worth nearly £4 a tin. The opium was at once seized by the officers and on an inspection of the vessel being made it was ascertained that there were only two persons on hoard—the master, Captain Merchant, and a Chinaman. Neither made any statement to the officers.