CAUGHT WITH OPIUM

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1946, Page 8

CAUGHT WITH OPIUM

-Press Associatioi

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Dee. o0rS|& Fpllowing tlieir arrest on Western \vliarf ou Satunlay night two Chinese appearecl before Mr. J. II. Luxford, S.JM., today. Jiiu Jit Wau, Ship 's boy, aged 25, was eharged with iniportiug iiito New Zealaud 21bs. 2oz. of prepared opiuiu and with being in possession of prepared opium. Litn Fong, a steward, aged 4(>, was eharged with iniportiug iuto Ncw Zealaud 3lbs. loz. of prepared opiutn. A plea of guiltv 011 all charges was entered for accused. Senior Deteetive Trethewey said aceused were seeu eoniing 01T Ihe wlial'f*. Wlien searehed Wau had ;>4oz. of opium lied to liis legs and body and Fong had 4Uoz. of opium tied around liis body. Wlien accused 's eabins 011 the Duteh tauhei- Tnria were searelied, IJb. of opium was fouiul in a suitease belonging to Wau while Fong luid £240 in £0 notes of New Zealaud curreney in another case. Altogether over Glbs. of opium was fouml and the retailj value of it was £1200. Counsel said £210 was stated by Fong to have been wou at Fan Tan. Aeeused had gone asliore on Deeember 27 and mixed with members of the Chinese eommunity in Auckland, some of whom were sliort of opium. Thev were taking tliat fouml in tlieir possession to t'riends as gifts . They said tliey had bought o])ium for between £10 and £12. W'itli . Iie aid of an inlerprcler the Magistrate told aeeused tliey were guiltv of a serious olfenee for wliieli Ihe Courts imposed a heavv penally. On the eharge of iniportiug eaeh wai lined £200 in del'ault three months' iinprisnniuent. On a eharge of being in possession of opium a Hue of £25 wns imposed on Wan.