COCAINE MENACE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1928, Page 4

COCAINE MENACE

TRAFFIC IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY. April IS. The traffic in cocaine has spread alarmingly in recent years, and it is safe to say that its full extent is not generally realised hv the public. The police authorities, however, are fully aware of its ramifications as well as of its dangers, and recent prosecutions suggest that a definite campaign is being waged against those who sell what is termed “snow.” By inflicting heavy fines and terms of imprisonment the Magistrates are assisting in this campaign, but nevertheless it is feared that the traffic will never be stamped out until the operations of smugglers are circumvented.

The Commissioner of Police in New South AY ales (Mr James Aritcliell) re- : gards the matter so seriously that lie ; considers that the stamping out of the I traffic should be made a Federal mat- . ter. Other States are not in line with New South Wales in the matter of re- j strietive legislation. So seriously did i the legislation of New South AA ales regard the traffic in cocaine and other i prohibited drugs, that the maximum penalty for those found in possession is C 25(). It is admitted that this Tins armed the police with a formidable weapon against drug traffickers, and in order thoroughly to organise its work the Police Department established a special drug bureau. Ibis bureau has done valuable work, which, [ however, may be offset by the flooding | of the market with drugs smuggled in . through Queensland. The ioslated position of Australia makes it easier to deal with the drug problem than would lie the case otherwise, hut at the same time it calls for great vigilance at ports where the. drug may enter. There is a great dispnritv between the amount of drugs that tire confiscated by the police and the Customs, anti the amount that is held by the agents of the smuggling ring in Sydney, and the police know that large quantities of drugs are landed in the iiorl.li and brought to Sydney by motor-ear, (Itieensln ml. according in Air Mitchell, docs not seem io bit aware ol the national menace of tindrug trall'n . The largest parcels of j drugs smuggled through Queensland. ' are taken in Sydney because the market there oilers the highest price. f Air Mitchell says that a reeeui work-, lour was a revelation to him so Inr as j drug trafficking was eoneorned. Al-j though it. might seem an exaggerated expression he was horrified at the ravages eoenine had made in comiiiunilies of New A'ork and other capital cities in the Coiled .States. lie returned to Australia determined to do all in his power to "scotch” the evil in Australia before it was too late. In his campaign, he said, he had met with many difficulties because the drug traffic was treated too lightly. the conditions that were discovered were frankly an eye-opener, even for the police. They found women engaged in selling cocaine in the lounges ol insltionablc hotels, right under the eye ol the management. '1 liev ion nil men living in luxury on the stile ol cocaine to unfortunate girls, some ol them in charge of dozens of subordinates, who sold the drug in small quantities to addicts. Cocaine circulated in all quarters of the city: it was distributed from the palatial fiats of Darliiighurst and from the slum dwellings of Surrey Hills. The dealers in the drugs were surrounded by gangs oi criminals, who .helped to spend the profits. That was the sort of thing which the drug bureau had to face, but with the passing of special legislation by the Dang Cloverninent the hands of the police were considerably strengthened. The first prosecutions had a moral effect upon the traffickers whose ranks were soon considerably thinned. Much has been done, but much remains to be done, and until the legislation is uniform throughout; Australia and under a single control the position is hound to he unsatisfactory.

Only last week the police received private advice that a large quantity of drugs was hidden on a steamer that arrived from the Fast. Although they wort-- convinced tlint their information was accurate enough they were unable to trace the drugs in a search which, went on continuously for more than 24 hours. The smuggler is a wily person and tests the resources of the police department and the brains of the individunl officers to the utmost.