E 3
10. There has undoubtedly been a great increase in the smuggling of Chinese Smoking Tobacco in 1932, and the total amount seized by the united exertions of the Revenue and Police Departments was 10,961 lbs., the great majority of which came from adjacent Chinese Territory.
III.-MOTOR SPIRIT.
11. The collection of duty on Motor Spirit realized $660,216.89 as against $425,359.45 in 1931. The increase is due to the increased use of motor transport.
IV. OPIUM.
12. The price of prepared and Kamshan opium remained unchanged in 1932. The net financial result was $2,314,226.25 as compared with $3,019,724.02 in 1931. The decrease was not unexpected and was due partly to the increase in the price made in 1931, which operated throughout the year, but also to the world-wide trade depression which during the year under review made its effects felt in the Colony.
13. Sources of Illicit Opium. (A)-Prepared Opium :- Macao again remained the chief source from which prepared opium was smuggled into the Colony, and frequent seizures were made on steamers which run only between Macao and Hong Kong. It was rumoured that considerable quantities were being smuggled into Macao from Kwong Chow Wan but no definite proof of this came to light.
14. On 9th July a European was arrested when about to land from the Kashima Maru and 2,400 taels of Red Lion Opium were found in his baggage. It was discovered that he had left the Colony for Singapore a fortnight before with the intention of smuggling the opium ashore at that port. As, however, he appeared to be without satisfactory means of subsistence he had been promptly deported with his baggage unexamined.
15. Later in the year information was received that a consignment of opium was to be smuggled into the Straits Settlements on the S.S. "Corfu". Search failed to locate it in the Colony but on information cabled to Singapore, the Authorities there arrested a woman of apparently Polish nationality, who was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment.
16. (B) Raw Opium.-There were no seizures of Persian Opium in the year under review. As in 1931 there was vague information about an illicit shipment from Bushire, but careful investigations show reason to suppose that, even if this was correct, none of the opium found its way into the Colony.