£100,000 DRUG RAID.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1924, Page 1

£IOO,OOO DRUG RAID.

•ENGLISH NAME ON PACKAGES. NEW YORK, .July 10. Six ecfiiccrs, as well as the purs,.i- the assistant- purser, and the ship’s plumber aboard the Italian liner Duilio (22.090 tons) were arrested in the early hours of this morning by Federal agents who seized narcotics worth £190.909. The labels on confiscated packages i f heroin hear the name of an English firm. In view of the rapid growth of the drug evil in the U.S.A. since the advent of Prohibition, the seizure is regarded as of the highest importance. While the prisoners were being arlaigiicel at a polin' court this morning a hundred inspectors of the Customs Department were searching the vessel for more drugs. The raid on the Dnilio was the culmination of three months’ investigation by two agents of the Narcotic Department. They made tin* acquaintance, some time ago, of a Broadway bootlegger (whisky smuggler) i,nine'll Swartz, whose confidence they gained. “WORTH £1,000.000.” Yesterday, when the Duilio arrived, Swaitz informed them they could Ice supplied through people aboard that ve.-.sel with gOOlb. of drugs monthly, the value of which, depending on the amount of competition, would exceed £1,0119.909. lie added that arrangements for this supply could he made through the plumber, who was acting lor an Italian dealer in Genoa. ’lbis dealer •was lies: rihed as one >.f the largest- merchants handling narcotics in the world.

Two agents met Swartz by appointment last night. They hired a launch in which, with lights dimmed. they crept stealthily up liver to the dock where the Duilio was berthed. UNDER COVER OF NIGHT.

The companion-ladder was lowered in the darkness and they climbed aboard. Hi the crew’s quarters they were introduced to the plumber, who brought to light numerous packages from hiding places in mattresses, in the ceiling, and behind panels.

The plumber then asked them to show their good faith by producing money. They handed him £1.309 in American hills, and the plumber continued to draw packages from hidingplaces. “I have GOO packages of heroin.” he observed. “Each of them contains 200 grains and, at mere than £-5 an ounce, they ought to bring £23,000.

The agents said they would go ashore for more money. They went to the pier and telephoned to Colonel B. G. Nutt, the chief narcotic officer of the V.S.A.. Colonel Nutt mobilised a large force of agents and placed a dozen on guard at the pier and a dozen more in motor-boats in the river, while ho went ahoaid with a body of armed men. A FIGHT.

After a severe light the plumber and two others were arrested. The raiders them awakened the officers, wlio protested indignantly, but submitted to arrest.

Nine poisoners were then taken to a police station and charged with violating the law prohibiting the sale of narcotics. The officers of the fillip and the company denied all knowledge of any illicit traffic. The plumber refused to divulge the name of the Genoa dealer from whom he is alleged to have drawn the supplies, declaring that his life would he forfeit if he betrayed him.

(Heroin is a potent drug obtained hv the action of acetic acid on morphine.)