Goods Thrown Overboard In Customs Raid

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 16

Goods Thrown Overboard In Customs Raid

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. May 18. May 18. While Customs officers pounded furiously on locked cabin doors, Chinese members of the crew of the Dutch cargo ship Van Neck threw transistor radios and mysterious bulky parcels helterskelter out the portholes into the harbour when the ship was in Wellington. A police launch cruised fruitlessly around the area for several hours but no signs of the jettisoned contraband came to light. The Customs chief boarding inspector (Mr J. B. Gresham) said today that his men had been suspicious of the Van Neck ever since she had come to Wellington on her present

trip. Some notable seizures have been had in the past off this vessel, particularly in the transistor line, but the past few voyages have been very quiet.

However, officers on evening and night shifts placed at strategic points to watch movements to and from the Van Neck began apprehending an occasional radio being smuggled ashore by members of the crew and visitors. “It was then decided it was high time we had another full-scale raid on the Van Neck,” said Mr Gresham. A team 6f Customs officers was taken to Pipitea wharf in two cars. But the Chinese crew, well seasoned to lightning raids in most New Zealand ports, apparently had a lookout stationed on the ship. Word of the raid was relayed throughout the ship, and, on boarding the vessel, the party was confronted with locked cabin doors.

In spite of continued pounding, no efforts were made to let them in. An officer stationed on deck to watch for any contraband going ashore, members of the harbour board staff, and waterside workers were then amazed to see transistor radios and parcels flying out of the portholes into the sea. The crew, resigned to their fate, were determined not to be fined as well as lose the radios.

Nothing was found in the cabins, even though the Cus-

toms went through them thoroughly. However, when it came to the rope locker, it was a different matter. Hidden among the dirty coils and canvas, were five ■ transistor radios and three gold watches. > They were immediately i confiscated, but their owners could not be traced, and the I seizure was thus not accomi panied by a fine. i The raid lasted three hours, during which time the police launch cruised round the har- ! bour, but no floating objects were sighted.