SMUGGLERS IN ARMOURED CARS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1920, Page 1

SMUGGLERS IN ARMOURED CARS

PAMS, Sept. 20. Armoured motor cars with crews of desperate smugglers armed with automatic pistols, rifles, and hand grenades arc giving the Customs guards on (toe Frnnco-Belgian frontier a very dangerous time. These cars are laden with tobacco, spirits, lace saccharine and other highly dutiable articles which can he obtained cheaply in Belgium and have a ready sale in the populous regions in the north of France. -i Reorganised since the War, the Customs guards have captured some of the high-powered motor-cars with armoured screens to protect driver and crew, but so far, they have not arrested any of the leading members of the smugglers’ gangs. The smugglers work the routes acrossthe frontier with the skill and decision of a military invasion. Scouts 0 11 motor cycles with unimpeachable credentials precede the expedition. Tlmy see if the way looks comparatively clear, and, if there are no awkward barriers to cross, they send back the signal and the motor-cars dash over. At Ba.illeul, three days ago, the Customs men had a running fight with one of these motor-cars which was chased by motor-cycles. The smugglers threw burning cans of petrol into the road behind them to try to stop their pursuers. The frontier guards, however, caught them up, and shot and killed both the smugglers on-the driving seat. The -other members of the gang pimp, ed out and escaped across country. The car contained three tons .of tobacco. Another car, in which were six men armed with rifles, broke across the frontier at Valenciennes a: week ago and cut through the cordon of guards/amid a hail of bullets. A short distance along the road another post of Customs men had been warned by tel'phone, and set up a barrier of barbed wire. The car dashed into this, and, owing to the fact that its front axle carried power ful wire-cutting blades, it got clear. A chance shot- from one of the guards however, penetrated its petrol tank and it was found abandoned ancl burning a. couple of miles away. The smugglers had again escaped.