Evening star., 1930-11-30

Striking example of one of the clever.
est ruses of sntuggLers. ContrGbGnd
plants tUere strapped up in this nIGga-
zine to be shipped as periodical mate
rial"
tempted to bring In 16 quarts Of liquor To do
so he utilized the services of two spare tires
attached to the rear of his car. The tubes in
the tires were split and eight bottles of liquor
concealed in each. A cold patch was then
placed on the tubes and the tires inflated An
went well until the youth had just about
reached the American inspection booth Where
upon the patch on one tire became loose de-
flating the tire. The tire needed only to be
touched by the inspector to reveal something
other than air ON the inside. Both tires were
removed, the liquor seized, and the smuggler
fined.
In another instance man and woman ar
rived at one OF the border ports and drove up
to the customs station. He explained that the
lady was suffering from lumbago and hoped
that the inspection could be made while the
sick woman remained in the car, since it was
extremely painful for her to move.
The intuition of customs officers is most un-
eanny. 1t Is surprising how quickly they can
detect falSehood.
This particular offlcer informed the man that
inspection could not very well be made unless
the lady stepped cut of the car; that 1t would
only require . few minutes and that the lady
nee0 move
automobile. She did.
However the woman's awkward movements
suggested anything but lumbago. So the officer
suggested in kindly but definite tones that per-
hapS she should visit the customs house and
unburden herself Of any contraband she might
be carrying. She did.
Once inside the ONCE the lady removed sew
eral quarts Of liquor from her person-from
pockets inside her skirt, deposited the required
fine and went on her way a sadder but wiser
woman.
MOT infrequentiy young women who are ap-
parentIy very well bred will try to smuggle
bottles of liquor by concealing them upon the
persons of their aged parents And recently
clergyman" with all the vestments dignity
and poiSe Of his calling was found to be pro-
feSSional rum runner
Perhaps there is q touch of humor in the case
OF a man lately apprehended with a large load
Of liquor. Having paid his hne, he Indignantly
demanded that the liquor be returned to him
50 that he wouldn't be forced to dsappoint his
customers!
One professional whom the government on
GERS had been trying to trap for some time met
his Waterloo In the following manner: He
made the acquaintance of a couple on a steamer
and presented their baby daughter with rat
tie. The evening following their arrival In New
York city he called at their home and offered
the child more expensive and attractive rat
tie In lieu or the one presented on the boat.
Naturally the child was delighted and accepted
the offer. Government agents were likewise
delighted. Having trailed him to the house.
they arrested him as he came out, and upon
searching him found valuable gems cleverIy
hidden within the plaything
One of the most dificult problems with which
the Customs Service has to deal is the narcotic
smuggling trade. Because dope" of great
value may be concealed within a comparatively
small parcel the ease Of this sort Of smuggling
operation is accordingly increased and the
possibilities Of detection leSsened.
An important seizure Of narcotics was made
at New York On September IS at one of It's
coRtinMed on Fifteenth Pc0e