Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-04
WAYS OF SMUGGLERS,
Illicit Traffic in Saccharin Worrying
 English Customs Officials.

No article since duties were first levied offers such temptations to the smuggler as saccharin, partly because of the high duty on it, which amounts to Il pound, and partly because it lends itself so easily to concealment. The various seizures, principally in the east of London, which have been made recently, show that the snug gler is taking advantage of his oppor- tunity and the revenue authorities are at their wits end to cope with the illicit traffic.
 As a matter of fact, spirits and to- bacco with all the romantic tales of adventure associated with them are no longer fashionable with the snug gler. Saccharin has taken their place, says the London Standard. Under ordinary circumstances saccharin, which is reckoned to be three hundred times sweeter than sugar, is import ed in at least four different forms, the characteristic properties of which are: A white gllstening crystalline powder. a dull white powder resemb- ling icing sugar, q white coarse gran ular powder, and crystals in small pieces of various sizes, similar in ap- pearance to common alum.
 Saccharin may be said to be illic- itly imported in three different ways First, by the ordinary process of con cealment; second, held in suspension or in solution in other goods, and third under various chemical aliases and en- tered as free of dutN In regard to the first method, when if is remember cd that a pound of saccharin. the duty on which is 20s, can be comfortably slowed away in ones waistcoat pOck- cts. the wide field open to the snug gler can be readily imagined. In fact almost every conceivable stratagem is restOrted tO, and no doubt in the great majority of cases with success.
 Saccharin has been found concealed in the center of bags Of starch and sacks of flour. in sacks of four. in sacks Of potatoes. in casks of resin, casks of fish offal. in cases ingen- iously made up tO represent the tops Of tables ip bottles labelled Health Salts" small quantity of that article being placed on top to disguise the contents: in ph0sphates. in ing"ts of potash salt. of sulThamiie Irenzoic acid. made up in the shape and ap- pearance of night lights. in bags of sugar. even in bamboo canes. in fact. in almost every imaginable variety of casks and packages containing goods of an innOcent discriptf0n.
 It is also tO be feared that q con- siderable illicit traffic tn this highly dutiabie article is carried on by pas senEers passing to and from the con tinent. and the means res0rtesI ta are as various as they are ingenious In one recent ease a passenger was discovered wearing a tight fitting calico vest next his skin containing seven pounds Of sarclIarin. In an- other ease a belt passing in coils srsund the body was the means en- pl0yesL
 But the difficulties which confront the custom Officer in regard to the personal running Of saeeharin are lf.ht IntIesvi when we consider the in numerahle articles uf eummerre in wbieh 1t may be utilized ur held in solution and imported frpp of duty. Tn such cases. as q rule. f is tIse ana lyst alone who can tel SaorEarfn may be used in canned and bottled