Stopping the

Vanuatu

Stopping the drug barons

By Macel Manua

VANUATU’S Chief Justice, Frederick Cooke, has warned Pacific Island countries to be on their guard against drug barons using the region as market or trans-shipment point. Justice Cooke made the warning on July 10 when sentencing Chinese businessman Cheung Siu Wah to five years imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 vatu for importing and posses

sing heroin.

Wah pleaded guilty to importing into

Vanuatu 50 kilograms of heroin between last February 12 and March 17, and being in possession of 677 grammes of heroin between last March 17 and 18.

Justice Cooke said the consignment of

heroin was brought from Hong Kong

and destined for Australia. “It was clear from investigations that not only the ac cused but a large number of Chinese both in Hong Kong and Australia played a part in the operation. The organisation dealing with the drugs was linked with the Triad Society in Hong Kong, and that the accused had connections with the Triad Society in setting up the enter prise of the importation of the heroin,” said Justice Cooke.

The court was told that Vanuatu was chosen as a staging post for shipment on the consignment because the accused had legitimate business interests in Port Vila which he could use as a cover for the first leg of the consignment of he roin from Hong Kong to Australia. The organisation in Hong Kong realised a shipment of heroin from Vanuatu could easily enter Australia undetected.

Wah first arrived in Vanuatu in May 1988 to explore business possibilities. He was associated with a Hong Kong com pany connected to the Port Vila firm of Olympic Investments Limited. Wah wanted to set up a garment factory. An application to operate such a company was lodged and processed early this year.

The company provided a front for the importation into Vanuatu of a consign ment of sewing machines and a mini bus.

Said Justice Cooke: “In that mini bus was concealed 50 kilos of heroin. The mini bus and garment equipment were

shipped from Hong Kong to Vanuatu

aboard the ship South Island 45. The vessel arrived in Vila last March 12.

Said Justice Cooke: “The Bill of Lad ing was made out with the accused as consignee, and Customs clearance was carried out by agents. The heroin was

removed from the mini bus by either the accused or two others engaged by him and concealed in the vacuum between the inner and outer lining of a large refrigerator. Some was put in kitchen equipment.” The refrigerator was ac quired from Mandarin Restaurant, a Vila restaurant which closed last De cember.

Wah’s name appeared on the Bill of Lading as shipper to Australia. The name of the person to be notified on its arrival in Australia was also listed on the Bill of Lading.

The consignment left on April 21 on the vessel Nimos for Australia. Said Jus tice Cooke: “Two of the packets of he roin were not sent to Australia and were later removed from the mini bus in Vila by the authorities in May 1989.” Howev-

er, on April 21 Wah flew to Australia and told Australian authorities of the consignment of heroin.

His information resulted in Australian

police intercepting the shipment. People

were arrested in Hong Kong and Au stralia. Wah then returned to Vanuatu last May and he was arrested in Vila on the 18th of that month. He told police he was expecting to be paid |HK2O,OOO per unit of freight from Hong Kong, making a total of SHKI.S million. The court also heard that Wah knew the drugs were in the mini bus before it left Hong Kong for Vanuatu and was ex pected to be paid another $A630,000 if the consignment arrived intact in Au stralia.

Said Justice Cooke: “In this case, Vanuatu was used as a stepping stone for the drugs to Australia. It was thought that the Australian authorities would never expect a consignment of drugs would come from Vanuatu. It nearly succeeded.” □

Port Vila: trans-shipment port for Asian heroin.