CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 56

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commissioner's proposal to procure control of its manufacture is worthy of support. The early enactment of the new Excise Act is also to be desired, so as to provide heavier penalties for the illicit sale of cocaine. The morphia habit seems to have received a check.

Enclosure 4 in No. 1.

Extract from the Resolution by the Government of Burmah, dated September 25, 1910.

5. Cocaine. Although opium and liquor occupy thirty-six paragraphs of the report and only one is devoted to cocaine, it is evident that this problem is speedily assuming special prominence. The lieutenant-governor regards with the utmost concern the growing consumption of this drug, the effects of which are most pernicious. It is New districts admitted that the consumption, which is wholly illicit, is spreading fast. were invaded by the drug, and its use became confirmed in other places where hitherto it had been only sporadic. Seizures of contraband cocaine in Rangoon town rose from 313, 191 grains in 1908-9 to 778,281 grains in 1909-10, and for the rest of the province from 76,445 to 161,404 grains. These figures illustrate the spread of the drug outside of Rangoon. The same is shown by the greatly increased seizures reported in the Pegu, Tharrawaddy, Prome, and in less degree the Pyapon and Henzada districts. The difficulties in the detection of smuggling of the drug are, as the financial commis- sioner remarks, much greater than in the case of opium. The profit to be made is as yet larger. There is no competition from licit supply. Furthermore, cocaine costs relatively less to the consumer. The excise commissioner does not think that the reduction of the supply of opium has stimulated the use of cocaine, but the lieutenant- governor doubts whether this opinion is correct. Although it cannot be inferred with certainty that the simultaneous decrease in the consumption of opium and increase in the consumption of cocaine are related as cause and effect, it is significant that many of the consumers of cocaine were previously opium consumers and that opium dens are said to have become places in which cocaine is now also supplied. It is further a well- known fact that persons addicted to the taking of stimulants if deprived of one kind will have recourse to another, a fact which has been amply demonstrated in Burmah by the introduction of fresh varieties of intoxicating drugs to replace others prohibited by law. His Honour therefore fears that there is ground for the opinions expressed by the commissioner of the Pegu division and the deputy commissioners of the Tharrawaddy and Prome districts that the check in opium consumption has led to an increase in the cocaine habit, and he cannot disguise from himself the serious character of this result. On the other hand, the use of morphia does not seem to have increased; but the seizures of ganja imported into Rangoon rose from 10,855 to 35,143 tolas and throughout the province from 77,247 to 83,533 tolas. The revised Excise Act will probably provide enhanced penalties for possession, and will enable den-keepers and habitual traffickers in all such drugs to be dealt with. The main resistance, however, must come from the preventive action of the Excise Department; but it is evident that the present establishment is unequal to additional burdens.

Enclosure 5 in No. 1.

Extract from the Bengal Excise Administration Report for the year 1909–10.

87.....

In Calcutta the quantity of cocaine seized was 452 oz. against 724 oz. in the previous year. Of this quantity 343 oz. were in their original phials and found pure, the remainder was in retail packets, more or less adulterated, and was destroyed as unfit for medical use. In regard to the large number of cases detected and the quantity of cocaine seized, the superintendent of excise revenue, Calcutta, Mr. Baboneau, makes the following remarks:----

"If the number of cases detected and the quantity of the illicit drug seized are any index to the volume of the illicit trade, I am afraid the above figures must be interpreted as a great expansion in the illicit trade and consumption of the drug. Some allowance may be made for zeal and success of detective officers, but that alone cannot be taken as a sufficient explanation for the enormous increase shown by the above figures. The only conclusion I can come to is that those desirous of obtaining

the drug have now devised and developed other means for obtaining their supplies. Chief amongst these are the employés on board the vessels that trade between Calcutta and Europe. It is an unfortunate circumstance, greatly to be regretted, that certain Europeans have been found to be engaged in this nefarious traffic which cannot be too strongly condemned."

Enclosure 6 in No. 1.

Extract from the Bombay Excise Administration Report for the year 1909–10.

57. . . .

Illicit transport, possession, and sale (of intoxicating drugs) show an increase of 124 cases, chiefly in Bombay (193). The increase in Bombay was due to the fact that 221 cases of illicit transport, possession, and sale of cocaine were detected during the year under report against 34 in the previous year. The very large increase in the number of such cases detected is due to the system of night patrols introduced in the cocaine hawking areas. In Surat and Ahmedabad the number of such cases detected was seven and three respectively. This deadly drug yet happily unknown to the people in several districts.

Enclosure 7 in No. 1.

Extract from the Resolution by the Government of Bombay, dated January 21, 1911.

10. The excise staff have had increased success in the detection of illicit dealings in cocaine, though these efforts are hampered by defects in the law and regulations. These defects are in the course of being removed, but no real progress can be made in suppressing this pernicious traffic until assistance is obtained from the countries where the drug is produced.

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