New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-28
SEIZE CASE OF OPIUM
Officials Find ESQ Pounds in the
Possession of Chinaman.
THINK MYSTERY is SOLVED
Prisoner Believed to Represent
Wholesale Enterprise for
Distributing Drug.

The largest seizure ~ opium ever made
! in this city was accomplished YESTERDAY
bv customs officials and detectives when
| they confscated $50 pounds Of the drug
valued at $4,000 The opium was taken
from Coon Chung. an Americanfzed emma
man, who is manager Of the oriental
Cafe. AT No 3 Pell street.
George Chung, as he calls himself. is
said 10 own a grocery store in Boston
and another In Lynn, Mass. and customs
officials believe that they have now FOUND
the man who has either been the brains
or the most intelligent tool Of secret
wholesale enterprise that has been dis
tributing smoking opium throughout the
country since the opium exclusion act was
PASSED oy Congress in 1909. This concur
sion was based not only on the unusual
quantity Of the expensive dope but also
on the manner in which II was packed
ready for shipment, in a manner well de-
signed not 10 rouse suspicion.
Since the raids made on various opium
dens in this city early this year the Gus
toms authorities have been trying 10 dis
cover by what means opium was being
brought into this country. The exclusion
act made importation very difficult never
theless all the opium desired by vicums OF
the habit could be obtained. The strictest
sIpervison of all vessels failed 10 disclose
7 smuggling. and all indications began 10
point to extensive smuggling Of the dope
across the Canadian border Customs men
were hopeful yesterday 70 find out at last
how the trick was being done
The police gave credit for the capture 70
Detective Castano Of the Central Office
He received a Tip" and with the aid OF
detectives familiar with Chinatown meth
eds brought suspicion upon Chung. Yes
terday- he summoned Deputy surveyor
Norwood and two customs inspectors ana
they captured Chung in a poultry store al
! No. 1s7 Chambers street just as he cslieu
for a case The case contained $50 POUNDS
OF opium.
The owner Of the store explained 10 the
police that Chung frequently purcnaseo
chickens I'm his store. Four days ago ne
brought the case 10 him and asked that ne
place it in his vault The box was marked
GLASS. handle with care
Chung protested against his arrest, avo"-
ing innocence. but ne was taken 10 INC
Federal Building TO explain to the United
States Attorney. The evidence obtained
was insufficient 10 hold him. and the Gus
toms men applied Tor search warrant 10
Commissioner Shields in order TO enter
Chung's house and look for some material
that would implicate the glib Chlnaman.
| When they reached his rooms, on the toL
floor OF No 1876 Worth street, Chuns
Chinese bride. whom he brought mere IRON
san Francisco a month ago, readlIy pr
duced more opium when they told her tha'
Chung sent them. They found opium IN
der the bed and in closets There %sIe
seventy-five pounds OF raw opium, hlty
hounds of cooked opium ready FOR use aho
forty pounds OF yen shee ash or sin2ht'
opium which also is a high priced arucle
! The detectives and customs men salo
that while they were in the house NUM-.
OF Cinnamon came in 70 buy opium. SOM
Of the purchasers brought little ivory re
ceptacles for the opium and the de,eC'
tlves seized one Of the tiny boxes
The customs officials assert that none ol
the opium seized yesterday was packed 10
uackages bearing the customs stamp
This fact will make impossible a detence
on the ground that the opium hau pee
| brought into the country prior 10 tne
exclusion act and a criminal action tnere
fore will be possible. Chung was taken tc
Police Headquarters pending his arraign'
| r,ent before Commissioner Shields to-day
He is a handsome man, forty-four years
old and has been in this country more
than thirty years