MYSTERY SMUGGLER

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1932, Page 6

MYSTERY SMUGGLER

SAID TO BE DIPLOMAT. SELLER OF HEROIN. LONDON, January 11. A mystery drug smuggler, alleged hv one witness to bo n person.fi cro in tbo diplomatic service, is now figuring . largely in the trial of international illicit drug traffickers at Basle. During the hearing of the prino'nnl accused person, a chemical manufacturer named Dr. Fritz Muller, it ws disclosed that Muller had sold large quantities of heroin for over £lO 000 to certain Bo ella. A severe cross-ex-amination failed to establish the identity of this man Borella. Muller dropped a hint to the effect that Borella was possibly a Continental diplomat who abused his diplomatic immunity by smuggling large quantities of heroin across the frontiers of Switzerland in the false bottoms of his travelling trunks and cases. He had reason to believe, he said, that Borella was an assumed name, hut he did not know the man’s right name. Muller’s admission and suggestion caused a great sensation in court, which was heightened during the cross-exam-ination of another of the accused named AYeidmann. This man, it appears, is the only person connected with the case who is cognisant, of the mystery smuoglcr’s real identity. For over an hour the prosecuting counsel hurled questions and suggestions at AVeidmaim in order to elicit Borella’s real name and position. AA’eidiiiann stubbornly resisted all attempts to he drawn. He was, he explained, under a strict moral obligation and would in no circumstances betray his mysterious collaborator. He further refused to give the names of other persons concerned with him in another charge of smuggling £9OO worth of heroin out of Switzerland.

The striking fact lias been revealed during the present trial that the cases so far brought before the court represent a quantity of noxious drugs sufficient to poison the whole population of Europe several times over.