OPIUM FOUND ON LOCAL PREMISES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 194, 9 April 1932, Page 5

OPIUM FOUND ON LOCAL PREMISES

chinesp raided POIACE YISIT PREMISES At NGAPUNA AND ROTORUA OCCUPIERS ARRESTED %o raids were caried out by Rotorua police last nigfir on CKinese premises and in each case opiurri smoking paraphernalia and opium was found and a Chinese was arrested. At 9.30 p.m. a police party comprisirig Senior-Sergeant -Carroll and Constables Kelly, Brown and Shilton visited the premises of a Chinese riiarket gardener at Ngapuna. The ocenparits refused tb operi the door when called upon to do' so and the police thereupon broke it down,* hriving to use ah axe as it was very saeurely fristened. -Inside the huilding the police found another door which was also locked. This was also broken in, disclosing a bedroohi in which was the Chinese owner and occupier of the premises. _ ' There was a strong smell of opium in the room arid a serirch revealed pipes, lamps rind a set of scalss such as are used in smoking opium and also opium in a form suitable for smoking. The occupant of the room was then placed under arrest. Two bther Chinese were found On the premises but no action was taken regardtng them. The arrested mriri was brought in to the Rotorua Pblic'e Station. At 10.45 p.m. Senior-Sergeant Carroll, aecompanied by Constables Kelly, Roberts* and Shilton visited ri Chihese laundry in Rotorua. Here^ they were admitted withoiit opposition arid a search of the premises resulted iri the discovery bf an opium pi|)e, a lamp and a quaritity of opium prepared for smoking, During the search there was an exciting interlude, when the Chinese occupant pf the preriiises, after endeavouring unsuccessfully to throw something into the fire, made an effort to swriilow it. His action was notieed by two of the police who, after a short fetruggle, suceeeded in taking from his mbuth a paper packet which was afterwards foimd to contain opium. In this case also an rirrest was made. ' Later the two Chinese were brought before Mr. W. L. Richards arid releaseid on bail. Th'ey'will come before the Court at 10.30 this morning.