HUGE DOPE RING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1938, Page 7

HUGE DOPE RING

UNMASKED BY THE PARIS POLICE

WITH INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION

FRENCH MULTI-MILLIONAIRE ARRESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. PARIS. June 8. The Surete believes that the arrest of a multi-millionaire restaurateur, Louis Lyon, aged 50, unmasks the world’s greatest dope ring. The coup is the outcome of 10 years’ patient investigation and co-operation by the Surete, Scotland Yard and United States G-men. Many arrests are expected, including former high political officeholders throughout Europe.

The police declare it is established that Lyon has as an accomplice a Peruvian, Carlo Boenla, who was recently arrested in Zurich. It is alleged that in diplomatic valises, he used to convey enormous quantities of drugs across the frontiers. Lyon is reported to have employed a corps of women who travelled the world carrying drugs. The Surete asked Scotland Yard to interview Vitorine Salti, supposed to be of British nationality, who consented to go to Paris and submit to questioning.

Victor Casanave, Lyon’s brother-in-law, told the examining magistrate that Lyon used Casanave’s restaurant, near the British Embassy, as a distributing centre. Casanave’s suspicions were aroused after the sudden death in 1932 of his brother, the founder of the restaurant, as thq result of which an immense fortune went to Lyon’s wife.