CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 15

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1911.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

Enclosure No. 1.]

Enclosures to despatch No. 26 of 1911.

Extract paragraph 43 of the Report on the Administration of the Excise Department in Burma for the year 1909-1910.

Cocaine,

43. Thirty-six licenses were issued during the year for the sale of cocaine and novocain by chemists on medical prescription, as against 31 licenses in 1908-09. Licenses were issued for the first time in the Hanthawaddy, Henzada, Toungoo and Meiktila districts. The restrictions imposed in 1905 on the possession and sale of cocaine have not had the desired effect, a large illicit trade in the drug has grown up, and the cocaine habit is spreading rapidly in the province. The total seizures of contraband cocaine during the year of report amounted to no less than 939,685 grains or nearly 2,000 ounces, as compared with 389,636 grains in 1908-09. In Rangoon Town seizures have increased from 313,191 grains to 778,281 grains and some 400 persons were convicted in the town for offences relating to this drug during the year. The Collector, Rangoon, writes :—

"The illicit trade is in the hands of Indians and Chinese and the largest consignments are brought in by the crews of Chinese steamers plying between Rangoon and the Straits Settlements and ports in China. A small quantity is brought in by the native crews of the steamers of the Patrick Henderson and Bibby Lines.

"The continued and persistent raiding of dens in Rangoon has had the effect of reducing the number of them. The drug continues however to pour in and is no doubt speedily disposed of in the districts. The habit has taken a firm hold of the people which it will take years to eradicate. At present it can only be said that some slight check to consumption in Rangoon has been given. Till there is a larger staff in Rangoon we cannot expect more satisfact- ory results."

In the Hanthawaddy district, in which the seizures have risen from 4,617 grains to 5,648 grains, the Deputy Commissioner states that the taste for the drug is spreading amongst the lowest classes all over the district and till the present staff is increased there is not likely to be any severe check put upon it. In the Pegu district seizures amounted to 43,200 grains as against 5,675 grains in 1908-09. The cocaine habit is reported to have spread there with alarming rapidity. An organized gang of smugglers which came to the district from Rangoon was broken up, the principals being convicted and imprisoned. Special efforts were made by the Superintendent of Excise to cope with the evil. Dens were constantly raided, and persons found resorting thereto were listed and kept under observation. In the Tharrawaddy district seizures increased from 39,230 grains to 64,708 grains. The taste is said to be certainly on the increase and enormous quantities of the drug are believed to be imported into the district. The Deputy Commissioner states that the spread of the babit is so serious and so difficult to cope with that a change in the laws is imper- atively needed. In the Prome district seizures have increased from 3,333 grains to 18,963 grains, and the habit is said to have taken quite a hold on Prome, Paungde and a good many villages along the railway line, and villages adjoining the Tharrawaddy border. In the Irrawaddy division the habit was little known two or three years ago. In the Bassein district 255 grains were