SMUGGLING RING MAKING HUGE PROFITS

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1947, Page 5

SMUGGLING RING MAKING HUGE PROFITS

Received Priday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, May 30. Senior Customs o.fiieers allege that a -vvell organised smuggling nng is making huge prolits from» the illegal import of Japanese goutls into Sydnsy. Contraband worth about £5000 hgs been seized in several surprise raids on the troopship Ivaniinbla since she arrived from Japan a few dav's ago. Officials aileged that, while Customs men were searcliing the vessel yesterday, a landing barge was loaded vvith goods dropped from the ship. The barge was on the unwatched side.of the vessel and Customs men received word too late to arrest it. During the past few days Customs officers have recover&d from private homes hundreds of pounds' worth of tablecloths, serviettes, slips, silk goods, electric motors, machinery and pearls. More than 500 strings of pearls were found among mailbags being ' driven from tlie wharf. Customs officers state that the ship's personnel are the prineipal sniuggler.and that the amount of contraband' brought in by Australian troops is in fiuitestiinal. The currency used by tht smugglers between Austyalia and Jupa.i is sugar, saccarine and boiled sweet.s. A bottle of saccarine tatdets, .osting 3s (id in ;Sydney, can be exctia-ig'ei in dapan for 5-0 yen, valued at £3. I n retuni jiolished Japanese gut fishing liin*. ' bouglu in Japan for eiglit-pence, can be sold on the Sydney black rnarket foi £2. (.'hina tea sets, eOstiug about 5s (id, sell for £20 in Sydney.