DIAMONDS SMUGGLED.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 7

DIAMONDS SMUGGLED.

GEMS FROM FRANCE. Allegations that £BOO worth of diamonds and diamond dies had been smuggled into Britain, nr sent through the post, without duty being paid, were made in court at Poole, Dorset, recently. The British Diamond Wire Die Company was fined £2O in each of three cases of causing false Customs declarations to be made, and the secretary of the company, Frederick Simpson, was fined £IOO in each of two cases for being knowingly concerned in an attempt, to avoid duty. He was further fined £lO in each of three cases of making a false declaration, and £5 in each of-three cases of having possession of uncustomed goods. Mr B. N. Stephenson said that importers of diamonds had to make a declaration slating whether the vendor was in any way associated with I he. purchaser. Simpson had slated that, the vendor of these diamonds was in no way connected with hup or his company, but, it was discovered that the vendor, M. Balioffet. the head of a French diamond firm. held half the shares of the British company. Counsel said Simpson had admitted that, 21 consignments of diamonds. over £3OO, had come through.,

the post without Customs duty being paid. He also admitted that he had | smuggled by way of Southampton, 453 diamond die’s in August, 1936. It was' also ascertained that in July, 1935, 80 diamonds were smuggled into the country by Simpson’s brother-in-law, M. Barthod. Simpson Took full responsibility for those. The total amount of duty avoided by smuggling and despatches through the post was £177, and the total value of goods involved more than £BOO. Mr K. Diploek, for the, defence, said that when Simpson went to France on j a social visit he brought the stones I back with him, and fell fo the tempta- J lion not to make a declaration. Be- j garding the stones which came through the post Simpson thought that since ' fhe packets were labelled dutiable, the I onus was on the Customs to collect J the necessary amount.