INTERNATIONAL GANG'S OPERATIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 January 1949, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL GANG'S OPERATIONS

LONDON, Jan. - 14. Reuter 's Vienna eorrespondent reports that the Austrian police have issued warrants for the arrest for smuggling of three men said to be associates of Bruno Seletzky, described as "the Basil Zaliarofi of South-east Europe»" The warrants follow reeent allegations that a widespregd international organ- , isation has beeu engaged in taking high-priced goods into Austria disguised as gift" parcels for displaced persons The money secured from the saies of these goods is said to have been used to buy arms for Palestine. It is now alleged that Oontinental planes have been used to fly some of these goods to Budapest which is tlie cleariug centre for the smuggling, and that these planes have been given clcarance th rough Vienna by the Russian authorities. ? Tlie warrants are for the arrest of Ilie Ciuraru, David Weidenfeld, and Dr. Sache Klein, all of Rumanian birth bu: of Austrian nationality. It is understood that Weidenfeld is- now in Parin and Ciuraru and Klein As well as Seletzky are in Czechoslovakia. Seletzky is also wanted by the Austrian police. He was born in I'olanrl and has been described as ''one of thcbest known illie.it dealers in arms in South-east Europp. Five days ago five other men were arrested ifi Vienna and accused of utilising the Austrian firm of Hoffpuqg to bring into Austria gift parcels for sale so that the pro eeeds could be used to purchase arms for Palestine. Recently ten flights of a Continental airline passed th rough Vienua for Budapest. It has been discovered that eaeh flight carried 2,000,000 American cigarettes loaded in Brussels. The international police believe that Jewish *agents in Budapest, to whom the cigarettes were addressed and who were formerly engaged in smuggling recruits to the Jewish forces in Palestine, are now engaged in buying and transporting arms to Palestine. Alost of the arms are known ,to have come from the Czeehoslovak Skoda works, but some Came from Italy. An Israel-Hungarian £2,000,000 trade agreement has been signed. Israei is to send Hufigary large amounts pf sc»-ap iron ana othor goods wliile Iluiigary will export'Jiuished articles and ceftaii foodstuffe.