CO129-522-1 Illicit traffic in Chinese opium 7-12-1929 - 29-10-1930 — Page 92

COP Y:

HONG KONG.

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The Honourable Colonial Secretary,

Seizure of prepared opium on S/S.Montauk on 4/12/29

I have to report the seizure of 103 tins containing

5 taels each of prepared opium on the S/S Montauk an

American ship under charter to the Dollar Steamship

Company. The opium was found in a hole cut in the after

mast. The storeman was convicted of possession. He was

a Ningpo man.

2. The interest of the seizure is in the fact that

this opium came from Shanghai. The vessel was boarded as

the result of information soon after her arrival here,

that 500 taels had been placed on board in Shanghai.

The tins had labels purporting to be those of the Lam

Kei Hop of Macao, some were good imitations of the type

of label formerly used at Kwong Chow Wan, and Macao, but

the larger labels were bad imitations. There had been

various indications that much of the opium reaching

United States of America in 5 tael tins and branded Lam

Kei Hop or Lam Kei was coming from Shanghai, and not from

here as formerly, but this is the first time we have had

direct evidence. The destination was United States of

America.

3. I attach specimens of the labels found on the

tins. The tins were the usual brass tins, embossed on

the bottom and top with a cock and elephant, and words

in Chinese Iam Kei.

4.

Smokers who tested it pronounced it to be made

from Persian Opium and a little dross.

(Sd) J.D. Lloyd. Superintendent of

Imports 9/12/29.

& Exports