CO129-522-1 Illicit traffic in Chinese opium 7-12-1929 - 29-10-1930 — Page 97

2.

REPORT ON OPIUM SEIZED ON BOARD THE S.S "TALTHYBIUS"

AT VANCOUVER, B.C.

On August 9th, 1929, special Customs Preventive

officers made a seizure of seven pieces (2 10/16 lbs.)

Crude Opium, which was found concealed in a store-room on

board the S.S. "Talthybius" at Vancouver, B.C.

It was found impossible to connect anyone with the

ownership thereof, and no arrests were made.

December 7th, 1929.

96

REPORT ON ANTI-OPIUM PILLS VANCOUVER, B.C.

During the summer of 1928, we received information that

red pills, alleged to contain a narcotic drug, could be purchased

from certain Chinese drug stores in Vancouver. As a result, some

were purchased openly, over the counter, in a Chinese drug store

in that city, and upon being submitted for analysis were

certified to contain Morphine.

The R.C.M. Police asked for instructions as to whether

they should prosecute under Section 8 or Section 4 of the Opium

and Narcotic Drug Act, but were informed that action under

Section 8 was impossible, as the stores in question were not

drug stores, within the meaning of the Act, while action under

section 4 wąs inadvisable as there was no suspicion of

trafficking, but rather ignorance on the part of the vendors.

It was further ascertained that there were eight or ten of

these Chinese stores selling these particular pills, and on

inquiries/