New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07
ILLICIT TRADE IN OPIUM.
BRITISH COLUMBIA THE BASE OF VAST
SMUGGLING OPERATIONS

SMUGGLING OPERATIONS.
Ottawa, July 3.-Tho attention of the Canadian
Government has for time past been directed to
the enormous increase in the opium ade 10 wesl Hong
Kong China and Victoria, British Columbia This trade
had its beginning years ago, about the time tho
Chinese population in the Pacific Coast States began
to make itself felt as impeachment TO the welfare
Of that portion OF the American Union. For q num-
Der OF years opium was openly brought to San Fran
cisco and other large cities the Pacific Coast, to
satisfy the cravings of the Celestial population Of those
States. The American Government realizing that the
Of this drug demoralizing to the inhabitants
of the country, placed prohbitory duty on all opium
brought into the Pacific Coast states TO be prepared
into a smoking mixture. The love OF the Chinese
population which then ever the increase. for
their favoe drug led them obtain the much sought
for mixture, despite the efforts of the Governments to
prohibit its use. Small branch establishments OF
wealthy houses In Hong Kong established st
Victoria, Il. c.; crude opium brought In saik
ing vessels the Pacific to san Francisco and
thence to Victoria where the crude drug was treated
and converted into a mixture used for smoking
small proportion of this mixture taken through
the American customs and shipped TO san Francisco
despite the heavy duty Of $40 per pound; but the
bulk OF the preparation smugged into United
states territory, taken to San Francisco and othor
| large centres, and there sold at large margin OK
profit TO the successful smuggler. This contraband
| trade at length became large that the American
Government increased the staff Of customs officials
at all important ports the coast and along the
boundary line between British Columbia and Wash
ngton Territory, and issued stringent instructions
| that were intended TO put a stop 10 the illegal
| business.
Despite all these precautions it is evident from tho
returns received by the Canadian authorities that tho
amount of crude opium brought 10 Victoria, and there
| prepared into the smoking mixture, has Increased
| to an alarming extent within the past
| few years II Is equally evident that, as
! this prepared drug IS not consumed In Canada,
| it finds its way 10 United States territory. lew
months ago the Customs Department here, convinced
| that a gigantic swndle was being perpetraed sent
special commissioner TO Victoria, armed win fui
| power TO examine into the workings of the Chinese
houses in that city that prepare the crude drug. Inc
report of this official shows conclusivcly that an enor
nous swlndIe Is being pepeTated on the Governments
| Of the United States.
The report quotes the Canadian trade and naviga-
ton returns which show that in 1856 the amount OK
crude opium imported at Victoria from Hong Kong
was 70, 7e6 pounds, valued In Hong Kong at s243l43
In 1887 the importation had increased to 94,oeo
Mounds valued at S293, 49, and In 1855 the amount
| had increased again TO 109.959 pounds. valued az
| 1904 800. From information obtained through tho
| houses in Victoria 10 whom these large shipments
were consigned, It learned that almost all Oh TINS
opium was prepared in the Chinese factories into
smoking mixture and taken into the United states,
not through the American customs, but sold In VIC
| tona 70 agents of American houses dealing In the
drug and to private persons who make 1t business
to smuggle the preparation across the boundary nne
The methods adopted in evadng the customs arc
| numerous Large quantities are Loaded III shiah
schooners at Victoria taken down the Gulf OF Georgia
and across the Straits of Juan de fuca and landed In
o,t NJ the way places on the American. coast sun
larger quantities are struggled the line through
| out It's whole length In British Columbia, espeeisny
among the mountains, where there is little fear OF de-
| lection Packed AZ ordinary freight, and carenihy
| concealed much of this prepared drug passes oouly
through the customs at the largest ports OF entry. IL
has been stated that the poorly paid customs onciss
at many of the American ports make large sums OK
money by assisting in the work of defraudng the Gov
ernment Cases shown where large shipments vi
| opum from Victoria arc sent along the nne Oh 'ne
Canadian Pacific Railway as far east as st. Pau "hero
4. Il easily taken through the customs as ordinary
msrcbandI,e and reshpped back again to the Pacific
Coast This is substantiated by the TACT u@ INC
amount of opium shown to have passed ia"iuhs
through the American customs the Pacific Coast IL
mere bagaele compared with the amount oI tne orus
manufactured in Victoria for me Aieload en ,bs
| IL Is impossible that the amount fepeSehuns uo
difference between the quantity entered ia .
through the customs and The q1ahLc aSada or' in
fact even small fraction OF this amount h,n IN so
first place, there are only rev ~ th an, OF the
Weather and better class Most OF them are en-;
poyed the opium factories Ia sem a addicted to
e u H " me large profits OF successful smuggling
trade in this prepared opilh arc eoverameat Official
eo,, ~ emnted 10 cease the rig0r of his eAahhaoh,
~ nratand 10 be profoundly ignorant Oh an! Hau u
when his palm is well creased lIV 'o Pu1be1
smugser, ohtained from Victoria houses, Is worm -
n,d In Victoria with IL added as uie lmpors
dutv charged on the drug by the oanD al of he
unS IT. takes about one and hat poInds " , ,ho
v, dc a. make one pound of smoking opium anu nn
cost Of preparlng the drug Is about MY csh.s p
nomnd Ths the prepared mixture reaIs ior u 49,
worth about - ,Po Tdng Is worth from si3 to sis
q no,nd II this manufacturer afuclc wa" Ell H Gutv
IN Victoria taken through the customs am ,,, nroS,
OF $40 paid on every pound ,R e dsbnted brides or
AZ Smuggling, the mixture can be landed " san
Francisco for 10 pound and reauy a ts one al
at from sl3 TO S1o per p o,tnai inc hcome wealthy
rrnr, the amount OF smoking OPIUM usel an ~, a.
evidence given by people engaged ia mo @ 10 ,his
Is evident that instead OF decresslng' no S,a,.s "a
Increasing 70 an alarming extent me- on nson MIA
known that large proportion on uu MI re ,pc rease
on use the drug freely and mar VIII n is Of
OF the Celestial population nv US r ~ ATTAINED
S .otnir,o.tson the Canadian Commissioner In MS 70
nnrt to the Government says that it an open s9rr
ON the Pacific Coa smdns ma t be white population
" The result OF this inquiry has been SATISFACTORY "a
the Canadian Government, as II ma Deeh % - nrac
that far Canada Is coneeIHe 10 he evtdence OF
the Victoria houses Is conclusive mat VIE IL
any of the preparation Is consumen III , brou obt
is interesting TO note that me crune op Prittsb de-
rom Hong Kong TO Victoria Is grown ~ BRUSH &c, nc
| run re india exported TO Hong Kong, nee
pof and then TO Victoria which Is IN anohsr arkat
Colony where It is prepared for me :. his trads
| The three kinds of opium chleny us~1 - ''
| are the Pabra, Malwa and Bensres'