AnnualReport-1924

XIII. DANGEROUS DRUGS.

The seizures during the year were as under :-

The number of seizures was 8, none of which were made on shore. No evidence was found during the year that there was any retail trade in Dangerous Drugs in the Colony. No Hypodermic syringes were found. Japan was the destination or the origin of many of the seizures, and considerable amounts of Turkish and Persian Opium destined for well-known Morphine-manufacturers in Japan were noticed as they passed through the Port. The import of Opium Extract into Japan from Germany was noticed for the first time.

The chief seizures were :—

1. 5,280 ounces Heroin on s.s. "Fushimi Maru" en route to Japan, manufactured in Germany.
2. 1,200 ounces Morphine on s.s. "Rheinland" consigned to Amoy, manufactured in Germany.
3. 6,640 ounces of Morphia on s.s. "Hakosaki Maru" consigned to Japan, manufactured in Germany.
4. 800 ounces of Morphine on s.s. "Oldenburg" consigned to Amoy, manufactured in Germany.
5. 1,600 ounces of Morphine on s.s. "Derflinger", manufactured in Germany.
6. 2,000 ounces of Cocaine on s.s. "Hosang", intended for Calcutta, all bought in Japan, some of Japanese manufacture, some with German marks, possibly forged, some with German and Japanese trade-marks on the same packages.

XIV.—ARMS.

Seizures of arms still remained high, but the origin was chiefly Germany. Compared with 1923 the number of arms seized of U.S.A. manufacture was very much less. The Mauser Automatic pistol was the favourite weapon. These were all second hand, and were imported chiefly from Hamburg, but considerable numbers were brought in by the crews of the Messageries Maritimes Liners. After the arrival of nearly every one of these ships evidence was obtained that arms had been smuggled in. The price paid in Germany for a second-hand Mauser pistol and 100 rounds of ammunition was from £2 10s. to £3 15s. Much of the ammunition for Mauser pistols was noticed to be of very recent German manufacture.