TOBACCO SMUGGLERS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1929, Page 7

TOBACCO SMUGGLERS

SYNDICATE BROKEN UP

LONDON, January 2. A syndicate of tobacco smugglers lias been broken up by the clever work ol Liverpool Customs officers. ’lbis was disclosed at Liverpool Police Court, when four Spaniards, declared to be members of this syndicate appeared in the dock. One of the accused was ebief third class steward on the steamer Oreoma, and the other three were stewards on the same ship. Customs Officer Mooney said there was no doubt that these men were all working together as a syndicate, smug gling tobacco from South America. The chief steward, Augustine Otero Mosqnera, was responsible lor a most ingenious concealment ol 28lb of to baceo. AVifli Hie aid of a very fine saw be bad eul out the wainseoating in the wall of the canteen and bidden 90 pacitages of tobacco in a cavity behind. He then replaced the wainseoating, nailed up the ornamental beading over the point where the sawing had been done, and gave I lie whole a Iresli coat o*l paint. The other three men concealed 17.1 b of tobacco in a venlilalor over thv dining room. The ventilator bad been unscrewed and taken down, and then reconstructed after the packages ol tobacco had been concealed inside. Mr Mooney added that the smugglin'; was of a grave nature, and the syndicate bad only been discovered by the exercise of great skill and patience. The accused men, speaking through an interpreter, said they bought tie* tobacco from ships lying alongside theii vessel in South American ports, and they were taking it to Spain. Mosqnera was lined U3l> and the other three men CIO each.