CHINESE “DOPE KING.”

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1926, Page 3

CHINESE “DOPE KING.”

BRILLIANT CHANG AGAIN. Once more Brilliant Cluing, the king of drug traffickers, who was deported from Britain, is in the limelight, this time in France and Belgium. I here the notorious Chinaman has resumed his operations on an extensive suile. It is only recently that Scotland Yard received an inkling of C hang's activities in a communication from the Continental 'police. The communication has bet n promptly followed by counterplans to frustrate, any tit tempt which Chang may make to come hack to England. A close watch is being maintained on all foreign vessels arriving from Dutch ports, the crews being carefully scrutinised by detectives. M hat is more significant, however, is limit large quantities of cocaine and other drugs have been systematically smuggled in during the last few months, and the ‘•snow’’ i- again living hawked about in disreputable haunts in the West End. After Chang’s deportation last year, following a senteiiee of 12 months in Bristol! Prison, little or nothing was heard of the eocaine traffic in London. There were very few prosecutions, and the Scotland Yard authorities were congratulating themselves on the cleaner and healthier atmosphere prevailing in the night clubs as a- result of the expulsion of Chang. LUXURY I,IFF/ ON RIVIERA.

Abundant, evidence Vine been collected by the Continental police which goes to show limit Cluing is making it, dosI'eratc hid to assume control of tho cocaine tu’iflie in London with the assistance of some of tlie cleverest dope agents in Franco and Belgium. Somewhere abroad there is a giant, narcotic factory highly organised and conducted on the most up-to-date business lines. Brilliant Cluing is believed to he one of the nfister minds behind the factory, the stall' of which is composed chiefly of Ciiine.se and coloured men. He is aiming at the centralisation of the traffic, with headquarters in all the principal cities on the Continent. That Chang’s fortunes have been reimbursed since he was cleared out of London is proved by the luxurious life he is leading abroad, lie appears to have plenty of money, and is able to indulge in costly pleasure tours on tlie Riviera and in Italy: But lie is no longer known as Brilliant Cluing. He lias adopted other and less familiar names, no doubt with a view of evading detection and keeping bis identity a secret on account of the notoriety lie achieved in England. Incidentally lie luts introduced a number of Chinese cates to the night life of the Continent. These cafes exist in Paris. Nice, and Berlin, and are pat. ionised nightly hy iasliionahle and wealthy guests. Only Chinese dishes are served, and the diningrooms and tearooms are typically oriental in theii decorations. At Nice Chang has started a Chinese dance club, which is looked upon as one of tlie most picturesque novelties of its kind. It is open all night, and one of its most attractive features is a jazz hand composed of expert Chinese musicians. CHANG’S FRESH TRIUMPHS. Thus Chang’s star is far from being on the wane, and just as he captured thousands in London by bis dazzling restaurant in Regent street some yeais ago, so on the Continent lie is making fresh triumphs. The cafes and dance halls which lie has opened in the guise of innocent entertainment are really the. camouflage for the distribution ol the soul-destroying drug with winch this amazing Chinaman, cunning, diabolical, and elusive, ruined hundreds of girls and men in London. The tragedy of Billie Carleton and Freda Kempton. the pretty dancers, to mention but two of bis victims, juo fresh in tlie. public mind. W bat be has done before Clmng is essaying again on even a greater scale. IDs inventive mind lias produced a variety of ruses I > which cocaine can be smuggled i. England ami afterwards disposed ot to dope fiends without betraying its origin It is no longer obtainable through the' old channels, so well known to .Scotland Yard, and can only be puiebased bv means of a coded prescription. This prescription is a jci. mis >- carded secret, the name of w neli is conveved by a seemingly innocent pas. word known only to pkang s sel •iotPllites ii) tlie est satellites are certainly no Londoners, but well-paid male and female emissaries from foreign cities, who aio the hire of the Dope N- in g-_