CO129-522-1 Illicit traffic in Chinese opium 7-12-1929 - 29-10-1930 — Page 24

Enclosure in Shanghai despatch No.198 to Peiping, 24th July 1930.

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Summary of enquiries regarding Lam Kee Hop

Opium.

In reference to the above, it has

been ascertained that a recognised gang, known

locally as the "Dollar Line Smugglers", who

used to operate in Macao and Hongkong, are at

present residing at various addresses in the

Settlement. Their rendez-vous, however, is at

present unknown. Information from various

sources indicates that these smugglers have

nothing to do with the actual preparation of

the opium for export, but arrange the transport

between the place of supply and the boat on

which it is smuggled.

It is said that the

opium is placed on board American bound boats

during the night prior to sailing, and that it

is conveyed by sampans, probably from the

French Concession. Further that each ship's

personnel is previously bribed and that con-

signments were quickly and cleverly concealed.

The heavy import duty on Indian or

Persian opium in Macao and Hongkong, together

with the losses incurred by the many seizures made

in the latter port, caused the Combine to trans-

fer to Shanghai, where the searching is not so

strict.

There is no proof that the opium is

stored or prepared within Settlement limits, but

/there