CARGO OF DRUGS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1932, Page 5

CARGO OF DRUGS

SHIP MET AT SEA BY PLANES

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copying 1 ” 1- .)

LONDON, May 16

An amazing story of drug smuggling on an extensive scale was told to the League of Nations Opium Committee by Mr Fuller, of the American Consular Service, says the Geneva- correspondent of the “Daily MaiL” It was stated that -a steamer named the Marabo, flying the Panama flag, _ suddenly appeared off the Californian coast, near the Mexican border. The United States authorities lmd been on the lookout for the vessel, but at the part of tile coast where she was sighted there were few telephones dr telegraph stations; Before the authorities; could act seaplanes swooped down on the steamer and took oft' a cargo of drugs, iuclud* big opium, worth hundreds of thorn gnnds of pounds, A naval cutter chased the ship but she disappeared in a fog. A few weks later she appeared in the Canton River, where she was seized by the Chinese authorities. The vessel was equipped with the latest Diesel’engines,, and had been specially built for the trans-Pacific drug traffic. A powerful wireless equipment enabled her to keep in contact with the members of -a drug gang through secret stations in the United States.

The captain was a Dutcnman the first mate an Austrian, the second mate an American, the chef English, and the steward a German. The rest of the crew included a dozen men of other nationalities.

With a fine sense of poetic justice, the Chinese are now employing the ship in suppressing the drug traffic.