The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-14
sMUGGLERs AT MAN
 n.A.

Smuggling cases are coming in thick and fast at the custom house nowa- cays. The latest attempts that have been rendered abortive are to struggle tobacco and human hair. and this morning a quantity of both commoGi- ties, which, according to the informa- ton in the possession of the customs authorities, are smuggled. was found by special agents in a store at No. B Gale Alix, Sompaloc, which way search ed for these very same goods.
 The information has been iii the pos session of the customs people for some days that the Japanese immigrants were fully as industrious in trying to beat the customs as were their neigh b3rs. the Chinese. Two large conslgn- ments of Japanese passengers came is: recently, some one hundred aud thirty on the Yamata Maru, and another large number on the Hongkong Maru, and in searching their baggage some hundred pounds of tobacco were found, and in a mattress that came through as part of their personal baggage a quantity of human hair amounting to seven kilos, or nearly fifteen and one half pounds, was discovered.
 The attempt to smuggle the hair was too palpable to admit of any question. Human hair, being used for wigs and switches, is classed among the luxuries, and pays an import duty of fifty cents gold a hectogram, or $5 gold a kilo. The tobacco is of a variety much in use among the Japanese population of Manila. The method of smuggling it was simple. Nearly every newcomer of the Japanese had a box or two of it in his belongings. Had there been only one or two such cases the tobacco would have been passed in as personal effects, but the universal presence of it in the trunks, chests, bags. and boxes. led to the belief that the information received in advance of the attempt was correct. The information is that I the owner of the tobacco distributed I it amGng hs countryrnen, hoping that in such small quantities 1t would come in unnoticed. If successful, he would have avoided duty of $2.50 gold a kilo.
 The human hair seized in the bag gage division is said to belong to one Ohga, a Japanese. but just who or what
 he is is not known. The tobacco is sus- pected of being his property. too, but il absence of conflrmatory evidence it is
 merely held, not seized. The hair has
 been seized.
 The information that concerned the 3l hair and tobacco smuggling also point T ed to a store at No. SS Calle Alix, where
 Japanese wares are sold. This store is kept by one Okuno. The place was wis. tied this morning and twelve kilos oi I hair, on which it is said that no duty has been paid, were seized, Fifteer
 boxes of the same brand of tobacco al
 had been held up in the custom house
 were also taken and the lot was ra' moved to the office of Surveyor Cairns
 The duty on the hair alone woult
 amount to $60 gold.
 The tobacco boxes contain about : pound each, and as these are also con
 traband goods 1t Is said they will brins the duty on the stuff seized in Call,
 Alfx up to s75. The duties on the stuff . in the baggage division. if ali of it i
 condemned to forfeiture, will amount t nearly s150. Itis believed that both lot are the property of one individual .-
 Manila Times.