Opium Smuggler Caught
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
At Apia
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, Nov. 24.
VI7HEN the N.Z. Government steamer Maui Pomare arrived: in Apia on her last trip, information received by the authorities led to the arrest of a sailor, Edward Reid, as he came ashore. A search revealed that he carried with him four tins of prepared opium containing 1 2-3rd lbs. of the drug ready for smok ing.
Charged in Apia High Court with im porting opium and being in possession of the drug, he pleaded guilty and was fined £5O. The fine was paid by the captain of the Maui Pomare, four members of the crew standing guarantors for the amount due, , Opium smuggling convictions were more frequent in former years, when a large number of Chinese coolies were drug users. At present the number of opium smokers is believed to be insigni ficant and, consequently, opium smug gling does not pay as previously.