MEMORANDUM BY MR. R. G. CULLODEN.
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MEMORANDUM BY MR. R. G. CULLODEN, ASSISTANT COLLECTOR OP CUS-
TOMS AND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE, RAN-
GOON, ON THE SMUGGLING OF GANJA INTO RANGOON.
Ganja has always been considered a prohibited drug in Burma. The prohibition of its
importation has so far been successful that the drug has been kept out of the local market to
a considerable extent; this is proved by the fact that whenever traced to any one possessing
it, only very small quantities of the drug have been found on them.
That there exists a demand for the article and that high prices are paid for it no one can
deny; this is testified to by the many attempts that are made to smuggle it into the country,
and on which even the heavy penalties inflicted on detected cases do not appear to have any
deterrent effect.
From the statement of seizures of ganja during the past five years, it will be seen that
the illicit traffic is kept up with more or less regularity, the largest quantities coming from
the Madras Coast. Advantage has also been taken of smuggling the drug by post.
There are many amongst the consumers who cannot do without the drug, the want being
felt by them as much as the want of alcohol is by persons addicted to its use. The follow-
ing will illustrate this. A Madrassi sepoy was once brought up for being in possession of 3
tolas weight of ganja, he cried as though his very existence was at stake when told that the
drug would be confiscated. He said that if it was taken from him, he would be unable to
perform his duities, and as he was ordered to a station in Upper Burma, where it was impossible
to obtain it he would die. He declared that he only indulged in very small quantities at a
time and that it did him no harm. I have seen several similar instances of a craving for the
drug, the accused in such cases being more willing to submit to a fine than be deprived of the
ganja. From my experience I am inclined to believe that the moderate consumption of the
drug has not the demoralising effect imputed to it, though I would not venture to assert that
there would not be a tendency to the abuse of the drug, if the prohibition was removed.
Punjabis, Pathans, natives of Upper India and Madrassi sepoys are those addicted to
the use of ganja. The attempts at smuggling have been more frequent since the introduction
of the Punjabi element in the police force; this is no doubt owing to a greater demand for the
article. Judging from the physique of the latter race of men it would appear that the moderate
indulgence in the use of the drug is attended with no ill effects.
No case of Burmans making use of ganja has even been brought to my notice. Hemp is
grown in Upper Burma, and Burmans, if they choose, could use it as a narcotic without let or
hindrance. The Burma ganja is said to be inferior in quality to that obtained in India, hence
it is not valued so much by the natives of India and smuggling is, therefore, likely to be
always resorted to as a means of getting the latter article into Rangoon.
The following recent cases of seizure indicate how ganja is smuggled. On the 6th July
1893 the customs preventive officers, acting on information, searched the S.S. Camorta from
Madras, and found 5,481 tolas of ganja packed in tin cases concealed inside the paint lockers
in the forecastle of the steamer. As this part of the ship is occupied by the crew, they were
charged with having brought it on board, but they disclaimed liability and consequently penalty
of 500 rupees was inflicted on the vessel, in accordance with the orders of the Government of
India as per letter No. 5205, dated Simla, 10th October 1889, the amount being recoverable
rateably from the wages of the crew. On the 21st of the same month, or 15 days later,
another large seizure was made, the ganja weighing 6,613 tolas and packed in tins was found
concealed partly in the lazarette and partly inside the linen locker of the S.S. Scindia from
Madras. The captain handed over the butler of the first-class saloon as the guilty one, the
key of the locker having been in his possession. The accused was convicted and sentenced by
the Magistrate to pay a fine of 500 rupees, and this not being paid, he was sent to prison for
three months and 20 days. On the 21st August last as much as 11,760 tolas of ganja were
found in two cases landed as passengers luggage ex S.S. Nowshera from Madras. The gun-
ner of Brooking Street wharf was implicated, as on landing those boxes he declared that they
belonged to him. He was sentenced by the Magistrate to three months' imprisonment and
to pay a fine of Rs. 500. His accomplice, a native, who brought the ganja by the steamer as
his luggage was awarded two months' imprisonment. On the 18th of last month 2,420 tolas
of ganja were found in a case declared to contain a sewing machine. The case was in transit
from Madras to Mandalay and was consigned to a native at the latter place. It was allowed
to go on to its destination and intimation having been sent by telegram to the Deputy Com-
missioner there, two natives who came and took delivery of the case were arrested. There has
since been another seizure of 3,360 tolas of ganja, the drug being found in a box declared to
contain shoes intended for Mandalay. The case was dealt with in a similar manner to the fore-
going one, but the result is not yet known.