OPIUM SMUGGLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1855, 8 September 1906, Page 3

OPIUM SMUGGLING.

CHINAMEN CAUGHT RED HANDED.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, last night. Two Chinese, members of the ciew of the steamtr Apavima, were difendonts in an opium smuggling oisa in tho Polios Court this morning. They were Ah Wing (alias Wing Tone), a seaman, and Long Tong (alias Wong Wenk), a carpenter. The oharge was that they brought into the oolouy three tins of opium in the form suitable for sunkiog. thus inourring liability to b penalty of £IOO eaeb. George Rowe, a Customs officer, said he saw tho two accused leaving the wharf, and called out, 11 Hullo JohD, what have you got under your coat ?” One of them repliid, 00, me got nothing,” Witness went up to them and drew a tin box of opium out from each of three pcckets of the man Wing. The other mao, ToDg, said: "Excuse me, him my friend; he carry that for me.” Witness thereupon gave both into custody. Tong plcadod not guilty, and explained through an interpreter that he did not mean to say that Wing was carrying opium for him, but was endeavoring to interpret for his friend, who a-ked him to say/'Exouse me this time.” His Worship aooepted Tong’s explanation, and discharged him. Wing pleaded guilty, and was fined the minimum fine of £25, with au order for imprisonment till the money was paid, wiih tho maximum of six months. Mr Mays (for the Crown Solicitor) observed that the Union S.S. Company would pro bably osme to the rescue, as they would otherwise be responsible for the mßn under the Chinese Immigration Act.