Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-09-12
SMUGGLING IN VENEZUELA.
Little Concealment About 1t, But th'
Profits Cut Down by Competition.

SMUGGLING IN VENEZUELA.
Little ConceaIment About 1t. but tie
Profits Cut Down by Competition.
Smuggling is an everyday, or, per-
haps more probably, an every night
occupation along the shores and at the
ports of Venezuela. 1t is carried on
much of the time in collusion with the
customs officers, and is done with n
degree of openness. A New Yorker
recently returned from those parts
crossed from one OF the West India
islands to the main land in small
sailing craft, and noted that the cap
tain had several snug spots about the
boat for concealing dutiable merchan-
disc. Beneath the floor of his bunk on
deck the captain had many bottles of
olive oil. Elsewhere he had dried cod
fish, and in one corner was barrel of
flour. These things were smuggled
ashore rs opportunity offered. People
came out to the vessel, as she rode off
shore, and purchased contraband goods
by night. One evening a custom
house officer, who visited the vessel,
said he thought he'd stay all night on
board. The captain expected good
business that night, and found the
presence of the officer embarrassing.
The officer, who saw the shippers dis
satisfaction, finally said in plain words
that he must search the vessel unless
the captain would yield up a box of
salt fish. The captain, feeling him
-Ahlo1 ,.-,.h,.,@
gave the fish to the officer. escaped
search, and had the satisfaction of see
ing his guest ashore before night
1t is a common thing for small YES
sells to anchor thus off shore and sig
nal at night to Venezuelan smugglers.
The latter come out, and there is a
lively trade until all are supplied with
what they need. The vessel goes to
another place the uext night, repeats
her signals, and has another set of Gus
toners This continues until the cargo
is sold out If any customs officer
shows himself his silence Is secured by
bribery. Vessels sometimes come into
port and land smuggled cargo with
the full knowledge of the customs Of
ficers- In such case no official record
is kept of the vessels arrival in port,
though clearance papers are granted
when she sails. Even when a seizure
is made and a vessel is put up at
auction, she goes for trife and is
bought in by her owners. Public SEN
timent is on the side of the smugglers.
Old coasting vessels from the United
States often engage in this trade 1t
is perfectly safe, though less profita-
BILE than in some places because of keen
competition.
Steamers trading into the mouths of
the Orinoco take vast deal of. contra
band goods into the interior. Large
quantities of arms are thus imported
1t is sometimes the perquisite of the
engineer TO carry certain things,
and even the companies owning the
steamers wink at the trade. \ jeal-
GUS new captain exposed the fact that
his engineer was carrying in some
thousands of cartridges, but so i'll ap-
preciated was the captains zeal that
he was at once removed from his post.
The officers of some regular liners
trading to Venezuelan ports have the
perquisites that come of smuggling,
and make good deal of money in this
fashion. Cheap jewelry is thus i'm
ported into Venezuela. The goods are
kept aboard ship, and Venezuelans
come aboard to buy. The trade is con-
Quoted almost under the noses of Gus
toms officers.
The Dutch island of Curacao, close to
the coast of Venezuela, is one of the
most important smuggling points in
the world. Scores of Venezuelans visit
the island to obtain goods, and the
trade goes on the year round almost
unvexed of the customs officers. The
knowledge of all this is public prop
erty, and the Venezuelan government
must be perfectly cognizant of the
facts in the case. Doubtless a great
deal Of the smuggling to Venezuelan
ports begins at New York by the fill
ing of orders for customers in Ven
ezuela. The old method of smuggling
articles on order to persons of means
In Cuba was to give the package in
charge of the purser of an outgoing
steamer, after marking the goods for
the captain of the port of Havana N.
" Sun