LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

C.40.M.80.1931.XI.0.G.23(1).20.

Geneva,

January 28th, 1931,

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM ÂED OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS.

REPORT BY THE GOVERNMEHT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE YEAR 1929 ON THE TRAFFIC

IN OPIUM AlID OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS.

Communicated by the Government of the United States of America through the Netherlands Government.

Note by the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General has the honour to circulate

the attached report for the information of the States Members

and non-Members of the League, and the Advisory Committee on

Traffic in Opium and other Dangerous Drugs.

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM

AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

FOR THE

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1929

REPORT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 1930

[REPORT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1929, ON THE TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUSDRUGS

A. GENERAL

, New Legislation.

A new Federal law, approved and effective January 19, 1929. pro­vides for the establishment of two United States narcotic farms for the confinement and treatment of persons addicted to the use of liabit-forming narcotic drugs who have been convicted of offenses Lgainst the United States, and for other purposes. For purposes of this act, the term “ habit-forming narcotic drug ” is defined to mean lipium and coca leaves and the innumerable alkaloids derived there­from. the best known of these alkaloids being morphia, heroin, and lodeine, obtained from opium, and cocaine derived from the coca plant ; all compounds, salts, preparations, or other derivatives Ibtained either from the raw material or from the various alkaloids ; Indian hemp ; and its various derivatives, compounds and prépara- lions, and peyote in its various forms. This law contemplates the Treatment, looking toward a cure, of all .persons addicted to the use |r narcotic drugs (1) who are now confined in a penal institution

a result of a conviction for an offense against the United States ; |2) who may after the enactment of this law become liable to such linlinement ; and (3) who may voluntarily apply and be accepted for lich treatment without having committed an offense against the fnited States. A site for one of the proposed farms has been Ilected near Lexington, Ky.. and plans for the erection of suitable wildings thereon are being considered. The site for the other nar- iitic farm lias not yet been selected.I While not pertaining to the period covered by this report, it is tvertholess considered appropriate to invite attention to a recent Jederal law, approved June 14, 1930, entitled “ A n act to create in le Treasury Department a Bureau of Narcotics, and for other pur- iwes " The new bureau thus created is under the direction of the bmmissioner of Narcotics, to whom have been transferred (a) all Ie duties heretofore performed by the Commissioner of Prohibition, lth respect to the Harrison narcotic law, as amended, which duties late generally to the investigation and detection of illicit internal |iffic in narcotic drugs, and (b) all the duties heretofore performed

2 TRAFFIC [X OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

by the Federal Narcotics Control Board, with respect to the narcoti drugs import and export act, as amended, which duties relate genei ally to the limitation of importation of crude opium and coca leave to that required for medical and legitimate uses (importation c manufactured drugs such as powdered opium, morphine, cocaiin etc., being absolutely prohibited), and the limitation of exportatio or in-transit shipment of narcotic drugs and preparations to that fc medical use. Another important feature of this law is the estai lishment of a division of mental hygiene of the United States Publ Health Service under the general direction of the Surgeon Gener: of that service, who is specifically authorized to make such studi and investigations, as may be necessary, (a) of the abusive use < narcotic drugs, (b) of the quantities of crude opium, coca leave and their salts, derivatives, and preparations, together w ith sui reserve thereof as are necesary to supply the normal and emerge» medicinal and scientific requirements of the United States, and (i of the causes, prevalence, and means for the prevention and treatme of mental and nervous diseases. The results of such studies ai investigations will annually be made available to the Commission of Narcotics, to aid him in the performance of his functions und the narcotic drugs import and export act, as amended.

A nongovernmental agency known as the Conference of Comm sioners on Uniform State Laws, with the cooperation of the Amt ican Medical Association, has for a considerable period of tii been giving careful study and attention to the preparation of model regulatory narcotic law with the end in view of recommen ing the text of such a law to the governments of the 48 States the United States for enactment. The Federal agency charged wi the enforcement of existing Federal narcotic laws has accept invitations to examine tentative drafts of the proposed legis' fion and has made a number of suggestions for changes additions thereto, considered necessary to provide that compli degree of regulatory control over narcotic drug traffic which is important in drafting a model uniform law. It is hoped that I final draft of the proposed uniform law will be completed a transmitted to the several States in the near future, and, if adopl by a majority, i f not all of the States, it should effectively supp ment existing Federal narcotic legislation and enforcement achieving the ultimate end of reducing illicit narcotic drug tra to a minimum.

2. Control of International Trade.N o te .— Attention is again invited to the fact that the term “narco' ic du

as far as importation and exportation are concerned, is defined by law mean opinm, coca leaves, cocaine, or any salt, derivative, or preparatioi

opinm, coca leaves, o r cocaine.

TBAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 3

Importations during the period continued to be restricted by law to crude opium and coca leaves, and were limited to such quantities thereof as were considered necessary by the Federal Narcotics Con­trol Board to provide for medical and legitimate uses only. The new system of import permits inaugurated in 1928, as described in the previous report fof the fiscal year 1928, has continued to function smoothly.

>To exportation of narcotic drugs by post is permitted. No permit is issued for the exportation of crude opium or coca leaves, as such, and the exportation of smoking opium or of opium prepared for smoking is absolutely prohibited. Exportations of other narcotic drugs during the period were by law restricted to shipments only to a country which had ratified and become a party to the Interna­tional Opium Convention of 1912, and then only if (1) such country had instituted and maintained, in conformity with that convention, a system which the Federal Narcotics Control Board deemed ade­quate, of permits or licenses for the control of imports of sucli narcotic drugs ; (2) the narcotic drug was consigned to an author­ized permittee ; and (3) there was furnished to the Federal Narcotics Control Board proof deemed adequate by it that the narcotic drug was to be applied exclusively to medical and legitimate uses within the country to which exported, that it would not be reexported from such country, and that there was an actual shortage of and a demand for the narcotic drug for medical and legitimate uses within such country.

Most of the narcotic drugs exported were combined in com­paratively small proportion in medicinal preparations with other active medicinal ingredients and in this form they were not so readily adaptable to abuse. A gratifying degree of cooperation is no:ed on the part of importing countries in furnishing official infor­mation, usually upon the import certificate, which is required by the aw previously mentioned before a permit to export narcotics can

issued.In-transit shipments of smoking opium or opium prepared for

moking are prohibited by law. Other narcotic drugs may be hipped through the United States, or a port thereof, only pursuanto a formal permit. The general policy with respect to the issuance f permits authorizing in-transit shipments remains the same as that or exports ; that is, a permit for an in-transit shipment will be ssued only if a permit for exportation could properly have been ssued. In isolated instances, shipments of narcotic drugs have eached an American port destined to another country without the ecessary permits for the in-transit movement being obtained in

4 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

advance and it has been necessary to detain the shipments until their compliance with legal requirements could be established.

It will be seen that no exportation of narcotic drugs and prepara­tions from the United States is possible, under the law, to any coun­try that has not adopted the import-certificate system, nor is any in. transit shipment of narcotic drugs through the United States to such a country permitted.

There are 110 free ports or free zones in the United States. Crude opium and coca leaves are only imported by the manufacturers, who remove them as promptly as possible from customs custody and do not have occasion to store them in bonded warehouses.

3. internal Regulation of the Manufacture, Sale, Distribution, Use, Etc., of the Drugs.

Substantive Federal laws controlling the manufacture, sale, dis­tribution, use, etc., of narcotic drugs were continued in force during the period without change, excepting that a new law providing for the establishment of two Federal narcotic farms for the treatment of drug addiction was enacted as previously described herein. The sum of $1,611,260 was appropriated for the enforcement of the Fed­eral narcotic laws for the fiscal year 1930.

Additional attention was given and is being given to the examina­tion of monthly returns submitted by manufacturers and wholesale dealers for the purpose of noting apparently excessive purchases of narcotic drugs by dispensing dealers such as physicians, dentists, and retail druggists. Wherever apparently excessive purchases were noted, field enforcement officers have been directed to investigate the suspected parties with the result that a number of such dealers have been found to be making unlawful sales and have been punished and the diversions stopped.

There is 110 evidence of an increase in the number of drug addicts in the United States.

Some difficulty is still being experienced in preventing the im­proper use of narcotics by some members of the dispensing classes of registrants, such as physicians, who are addicted to the use of drugs. The cooperation of State licensing boards in this connec­tion is being solicited to withhold licenses from such persons as long as the latter remain addicts, thus eliminating this facility for tlie diversion of drugs purchased ostensibly for medical purposes.

The principal enforcement problem remains that of preventing unlawful introduction of contraband narcotics into the Unit™ States from abroad. Narcotic drugs, principally morphine, cocaine, and heroin, appear to be smuggled into the United States largely through the port of New York, from which point they are dis»

TRAFFIC IN' OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 5

uted by well-organized groups of traffickers to the interior. It is admittedly difficult to apprehend the leaders of these groups who operate only through a system of agents who in turn sell only in large quantities to smaller dealers well known to them as illicit traffickers. These smaller traffickers, when apprehended, steadfastly refuse to divulge their source of supply. This situation has dictated the present policy of the new Bureau of Narcotics to direct concen­trated investigations of the groups of illicit traffickers who operate on a large scale, since it is obvious that more efficient results can be obtained by removing the primary and secondary sources of sup­ply than by devoting major enforcement efforts to the elimination of the ordinary “ street peddler.” It should not be understood that the last mentioned phase of enforcement will be neglected, but here again the cooperation of the State enforcement agencies will be solicited to assist in the detection and prosecution of cases of pri-

arily local significance.While the Government is convinced for reasons stated in previous

eports that the major portion of narcotic drugs supplying the llicit traffic of the United States is smuggled from abroad, it is ifficult to trace to the point of origin such drugs as are seized in llicit traffic within the country. As might be expected, such drugs a rely bear the labels of the foreign manufacturer. In a few cases, owever, where rather small quantities of drugs were involved, the ontainers thereof did bear labels purporting to be those of foreign lanufacturers and brief statements of the circumstances of a few uch cases follow :On January 12 and 21, 1929, a narcotic officer secured from one alvadore Marino, alias Sam Marino, 5 ounces of morphine hydro- hloride and 1 ounce of cocaine hydrochloride. The cocaine was ontained in a glass bottle, and bore a label with the following scription : “ 1 Onza Hidroclorate de Cocaine Merck purisimo crist. arm. Alemana V. Cod. franc 1908 y F. E. U. IX E. Merck 2611 armstadt. E. Merck Darmstadt Eingetrangene Schutzmarke.” he morphine was contained in 1-ounce packages but was unlabeled, larino was subsequently sentenced to serve a term of two years in rison and to pay a fine of $500.On January 18, 1929, when one John D. Ford was arrested in égales, Ariz., there were found in his possession two 1 4 -ounce ttles o f cocaine hydrochloride in crystal form. Each of these ttles bore a label at the top of which was the following wording : Fabrique de Produits Chimiques Purs Pour la Pharmacie.” The bels purported to be those of Ferdinand Roques, Paris, and the imber “ 499 ” was stamped on each label. The following was also

6 TRAFFIC IN’ OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

printed thereon : “ *4 oz. Chlorhydrate de Cocaine.” This man was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment for a term of two years.

On February 23, 1929, the French line steamship Rockambea«

arrived in New York from Havre, France. On the same day eus- toms inspectors, while conducting a search of the ship, found in the engine room three bottles containing morphine hydrochloride. Two of these bottles contained 200 grams each while the third bottle con­tained 3y2 ounces. There was affixed to each of these bottles a label bearing the following inscription: “ Les Établissements Poulenc Frères De Diacetyl Morphine Siège Sociale Eue Vielle du Temple 92 Paris.” The party responsible for this attempted illicit importa­tion could not be ascertained but the narcotics were confiscated.

On September 18, 1929, there were seized in New York, from Carnelo Fuentes, eight bottles each containing 1 gram of cocaine hydrochloride. Each of these bottles was inclosed in a corrugated cardboard box, 1 inch in diameter and 1% inches high. On each cardboard box was a label with the following inscription : “ 1 gi. Cocaina Clorhidrato, Roche, F. Hoffman-LaRoche Cia S. E., Basilei (Suiza) 5420 Span.” and the following number stamped thereon: “ B 206138.” Each of the bottles bore a label similar to that on the containers. The bottles were sealed and tied with white cord. This violator was sentenced in the State court to imprisonment for i term of three years.

4. International Cooperation.

No further conventions for the purpose of suppressing the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs with the United States a party thereto wen concluded during the period. The informal arrangement for the direct exchange of information relative to known or suspected illicit drug traffickers and their operations, previously concluded betweei the United States and several other countries, has been accepted during the period by three additional countries—that is, Portugal Rumania, and Switzerland. This direct exchange of informât™ takes place between officials of the several countries who are, ii general, in touch with the situation with respect to the drug trail in their respective countries, at least in so far as the system of dni| control within their respective countries permits. A gratifyiij degree of cooperation on the part of many of the countries whid are parties to this agreement is acknowedged.

The Government especially acknowledges the cordial coopérât™ afforded by the Canadian law enforcement authorities. Such vigoi ous and efficient cooperation continuously afforded by the Canada authorities is believed to have discouraged to a large extent the illici traffic between the two countries. The Government is pleased als

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 7

to acknowledge its appreciation of the hearty cooperation of the British authorities in connection with the investigation and detection of illicit international narcotic drug traffickers.

B. PARTICULAR DRUGS

5, Raw Opium and Coca Leaves."

Neither crude opium nor the coca leaf is produced in the United States, all supplies thereof being imported.

Crude opium is permitted to be imported under official permit for medical and legitimate purposes through any designated port of entry, but in practice it is entered only through the following ports for the convenience of the several manufacturers : Detroit, Mich. ; Indianapolis, Ind. ; New York, N. Y .; St. Louis, Mo.; and Baltimore, Md. Similarly, coca leaves are entered only through the port of New York.

During the calendar year ended December 31, 1929, the following importations of crude opium were made :

Importations of crude opium into the United States

Country from which exported to the United States : P o u n d s ( a v o rd u p o is )

England____________________________________________________ 9, 917.75Greece____________________________________________________ 31, 087. 50Turkey in Europe________________________________________ 40, 416. 25Turkey in Asia___________________________________________ 10, 941. 00Holland____________________________________________________ 1, 493.00Germany_________________________________________________ 10, 536. 50Yugoslavia_______________________________________________ 58, 996.00Persia----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6, 354.00

Total___________________________________________________ 169, 742. 00

It is not possible to give the country of production of this crude pium as such information is not always known, even to the im- orting manufacturer. Importations, from those countries enumer- ted in the above list that produce opium, doubtlessly represent pium produced from poppies grown within or near their respective orders, while importations from the nonproducing countries prob- bly represent transshipments directly or indirectly from the pro­ducing fields of the Near East. The Government is given to under­and that no Indian opium is imported, directly or indirectly, into

he United States.No distinction is made among the different kinds of opium im-

orted in so far as manufacturing purposes are concerned. During he year ended December 31, 1929, a total of 164,183 pounds (avoir- upois) was used in manufacturing. This embraces the manufac-

14239—30----- 2

8 TRAFFIC IX OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

ture of all products of opium required of manufacturers by the legitimate trade. No separate record is required showing the quan­tities of opium used for the production of stated drugs, but for the purpose of showing the extent of manufacture of the more important opium derivatives, a special report was required of manufacturers for the calendar year 1929 showing the actual manufacture of mor­phine, codeine, dionin, and cocaine. Manufacturing figures for these derivatives will be found under the appropriate subheadings. For convenient comparison statistics of domestic purchases and sales of opium derivatives will be hereinafter listed separately in a table under the section of this report headed “ morphine.”

The circumstances connected with some interesting seizures of crude opium during the period covered by this report are detailed as follows :

On January 15. 1929. the captain of the steamship Exford of the American Export Line Steamship Co., found and subsequently turned over to the customs authorities seven pieces of crude opium weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces, and four packages of hashish, weighing a total of 2% pounds. The drugs were contained in a cloth bag bearing the figure of a violin, bow and sheet music stamped in the center, with blue ink. This ship arrived in New York on February 13, 1929, coming from Mediterranean ports. No informa­tion could be gleaned as to where these drugs originally came from and they were confiscated.

On March 6, 1929, the Bigelow Hartford Co. of Thompsonville, Conn., manufacturers of carpets, turned over to narcotic officers 39 pounds of gum opium. This opium was concealed in one of 612 bales of Turkish wool imported from Constantinople. These bales of wool were shipped on the steamship E m m elia of the American Export Line Steamship Co. Another lot of 502 bales of wool also was shipped at this time. When the ship arrived in New \orkon January 11, 1929, the lot of 502 bales was taken off, and the remain­ing 612 were purchased in Philadelphia by the Bigelow Hartford Co. and were forwarded by rail to Thompsonville, Conn., arriving in the latter place on January 22, 1929. On March 2, 1929, the bale of wool in which the opium was concealed was opened, preparatory to placing the wool in the picking machine and it was at this time that the contraband was discovered. The opium was contained ir. six canvas belts, each having 10 pockets, apparently made to be wort around a person’s waist. These belts were made of very light can­vas, and there were two kinds of sewing thread in the bale of wool, tending to show that it had been opened and the opium placed therein. There were 13% slabs, weighing a total of 10 pounds, ead wrapped in a white duck sack, tied and sealed with red sealing was.

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 9

and bearing the imprint of two red Turkish flags and Greek lettering and the words “ EXTRA EXTRA There were also 58 packages, weighing a total of 29 pounds, wrapped with red paper on the out­side. tin foil on inside and tied with gold string. Each of these packages had the same markings as the slabs of opium, except for the Greek lettering.

On August 12, 1929, officers discovered 1,000 pounds of crude opium in the World Warehouse, 5 Mercer Street, New York. This opium wr.as contained in three wooden-packing cases. In the three wooden-packing cases were 50 smaller metal, hermetically sealed containers, each of which contained twenty 1-pound bricks of opium. Each brick of opium was wrapped with red paper, commonly known as “ Turkey Red,” and tied with light yellow string. Each piece of opium measured 4 inches by 2% inches by 2y2 inches and was covered with tin foil. A laboratory analysis showed that this was crude gum opium, containing 9.909 per cent anhydrous morphine. It was determined that the opium had not been processed to remove the fibers, leaves, and other extraneous matter and had the charac­teristics of what is ordinarily knowTn as “ Persian Gum Opium.” Original markings on these cases had apparently been chiseled off, with the exception of the number “ 7724 ” which was printed on each packing case with black ink. What appeared to be new7 mark­ings were printed over the chiseled spaces as follows : “ J. Fisher, c/o Garfinkle Trucking Co.” The words “ New York ” were also stenciled on each case, but these words were also placed over chiseled paces. There was no evidence to implicate anyone with the actual hipment or illicit importation and no arrest was made, but the

opium was confiscated.During the year, 113,546 pounds (avoirdupois) of crude coca leaves

were imported from Peru and 22,298.5 pounds (avoirdupois) from Holland—total importation, 135.844.5 pounds. It should be noted that the cocaine yield from the Java leaves imported from Holland is approximately twice the cocaine yield from Peruvian leaves.

Comparative statements of importations of crude opium and coca leaves for the five-year period from 1925 to 1929, inclusive, follow :

Total imports of opium into the United States by calendar years, 1923-1929,inclusive

i,i , , P o u n d s•ilendar year : ( a v o i r d u p o is )

102.1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 102, 857. 50192 6---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 142, &41. 75192 7---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 140. 935. 75

10 TRAFFIC IX OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

Total imports of coca leaves into the United States by calendar years, 1925-1929inclusive

C alen d a r year K in d of L eaves

Q u an tity ,pounds

(avo ird u ­pois)

Total,pounds

(avoirdu­pois)

1925 ....................... .......................................... 93,602. 50 65,691. 75

135,128. 00 158, 852. 25 186, 020. 00 66,618.75

123, 699.00 120, 281.00 113,546.00 22, 298. 50

1926 .........................— ...........................159,294.25

1927 ............................ ........... ..............................293 ,98a 25

1928.............................. ........... .............................252,638.75

1929.................... ................. ........- ____ ______243,98a 00

Ja v a n e se ______________ ______________ 135,844 50

6. Prepared Opium.

(a) There is no lawful manufacture of prepared opium in the United States. The importation of prepared opium into the United States, the admission of the substance for transfer or transshipment to another country, and the exportation thereof to another country are absolutely prohibited.

It is believed that there is comparatively little opium smoking in the United States among the national population, although there appears to be a certain indulgence in the habit, more particularly perhaps, among the alien population, especially the Chinese. There were reported during the year only 25 cases of violation of the smoking opium law and in 13 of these cases prosecution was insti­tuted, 7 persons being acquitted and 6 persons convicted and sentenced to a total of eight years and four months imprison­ment. However, some of the violations of the narcotic drugs im­p o rt and export act, as hereinafter reported, represent unlawful activities involving the importation and sale of prepared opium, and in several cases large seizures of prepared opium were made without definite indication of the party responsible for the shipment and in the latter cases there could not, of course, be prosecutions.

The principal difficulty experienced in suppressing the practice of opium smoking lies in the prevention of unlawful importation of the drugs. Opium used for smoking purposes is smuggled chiefly along the Pacific coast and through the ports of Seattle and San F rancisco, although a portion finds its way through the port of New York. Through the vigilance of enforcement officers, a large part of this contraband is apprehended and seized on arrival, no tw ith ­

standing the resourcefulness in concealment by the traffickers. En­forcement officers noted a sharp rise in the price of a 5-tael tin of smoking opium in the illicit market and difficulty in securing deliv­ery even at advanced prices, which would seem to indicate a degree of success in curtailing importation of the contraband.

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 11

During the period there were seized and confiscated on account of violation of the Federal narcotic laws a total of 39,342.41 ounces of prepared opium, the origin of which could not be definitely deter­mined but which no doubt was manufactured and packed somewhere in the Far East. Of accumulated seized stores of prepared opium, 3,878 ounces were destroyed and 24,239 ounces were transferred to the War Department for medical reserves, not for use as such but for extraction of alkaloidal content for medical purposes in the event of an emergency.

Brief statements of the circumstances connected with a few typical seizures of prepared opium follow :

Enforcement officers received information that a large quantity of smoking opium was being smuggled into the country on board the steamship Golden Star of the Oceanic & Oriental Steamship Co. When the ship arrived in East San Pedro, Calif., on February 23, 1929, from Chinese ports, customs and narcotic officers boarded the ship and seized 170 five-tael cans of smoking opium, and arrested Pedro Valdez, alias Jung Hon Yee, alias Jung Jim Suey, the cook; Samuel M. Akana, alias Lee Fui, the chief steward ; and John Aione, alias Gong Yuen, a mess boy. Each of these tins bore a label with the words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao,” and the impression of a chicken. The Shanghai municipal police stated that the labels on these tins are of a pattern which is in common use in South China, but is never used in Shanghai. This smoking opium was confiscated and criminal proceedings were instituted against the three persons named above. John Aione was acquitted, but Pedro V aidez was sentenced to serve a term of two years in prison and fined $5.000 ; while Samuel M. Akana was imprisoned for a period of six months.

On March 14, 1929, there was seized by customs officers, 1,339 five- tael brass cans of smoking opium. These drugs were taken from the steamship Bengkali of the Netherlands Steamship Navigation Co., which arrived in San Francisco, Calif., on March 13, 1929, from Surabaya, Java, and other ports in the southern Pacific. Ho Fook, a Chinese member of the crew, was charged with unlawfully intro­ducing the drugs in question into this country. Each of these cans had stamped on the end thereof a picture of a rooster and an ele­phant, There was also a label with the words “ Best Quality of Old Opium " and a Chinese mark on an oval made by the words “ Ching Kee, Macao.” Another Chinese mark on an oval bore the words l'Lam Kee, Macao,” and a stencil mark on another oval with the words • Lam Kee Hop, Old Store.” These drugs were confiscated, and Ho Fook was sentenced on April 4, 1929, to serve a term of five years in prison.

12 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

On March 15, 1929, the steamship Shinyo M am of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Co. arrived in San Francisco, Calif., from Hon» Kong. Shanghai, Nagasaki. Kobe, Yokohama, and Honolulu. On March 16, 1929. five customs officers boarded the vessel and conducted an exhaustive search for contraband, and found a place in the ceiling of the dining room used for third-class passengers that aroused their suspicions. This spot in the ceiling, which was marked w ith fresh white paint, was broken, and one of the officers, lifting himself through the hole thus made in the ceiling, took out a bundle of opium from the panel of the compartment between hold No. 4 and the pantry. This bundle contained 10 brass 5-tael cans of smoking opium. Each of these cans was marked as follows : “ Booster"stamped in metal end of can. label with Chinese mark in oval made by the words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao,” label with Chinese mark, rubber stamp over corners of above labels and Chinese mark in oval made by the words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao.” It was impossible to determine who was responsible for the unlawful introduction of this commodity into the country, nor could it be ascertained definitely from whence it came or to whom it was to be delivered.

On May 4, 1929, the steamship W ray Castle of the Lancashire Shipping Co. (Ltd.) arrived in Philadelphia from Baltimore. This ship has a regular route between Far Eastern ports and Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York. Its first port of call in this country was New York, from whence it proceeded to Baltimore and then to Philadelphia. On May 8, 1929, a customs guard, while guarding the pier to which the ship was made fast, saw H. E. Fleetham, an apprentice seaman, leaving the pier. As this seaman appeared to be exceedingly heavy around the waist as compared to his slender shotil-1 tiers, the guard requested this man to open his coat. Upon comply-1 ing. the seaman was found to be wearing a neatly contrived vest, I fitted with pockets, the pockets being filled with brass cans of sraok-1 ing opium. A total of 24 cans, each containing five taels of smoking I opium, were confiscated. When questioned the sailor stated that I Wong Ah Ching, the Chinese boatswain, requested him to deliver I the drugs to a person he was to meet at a certain place. When the I boatswain was questioned, he readily admitted bringing the drugs I into this country, whereupon he also was arrested. Each of the cans I had wrappers affixed containing Chinese characters printed thereon I and the words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao.” Wong Ah Ching was sub-1 sequently sentenced to serve a term of one year and one day in I

prison. ISubsequently this ship proceeded to New York and on May 28, ■

1929, customs officers found on the deck 67 five-tael cans of smoking I opium bearing Chinese marks and the words “ Lo Fuk Kee." I

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 13

On May 15, 1929, customs officers while searching the steamship Stuart Dollar of the American Mail Line, at Tacoma, Wash., found concea led in the carcasses of three frozen sheep stored in the provi­sion refrigerator, 50 five-tael cans of smoking opium. To these cans were affixed labels bearing various Chinese characters and the words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao ” and had stamped thereon the figure of an elephant and of a chicken. This ship regularly plies between various oriental ports and San Francisco, Aberdeen, and Tacoma. The chief steward and the chief cook, who are both Chinese, were arraigned before the United States commissioner and held for action of the grand jury.

On June 6, 1929, the steamship Ixion of the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. arrived in Seattle, Wash., from the Orient. A searching party of customs officers boarded the ship and found con­cealed in the port and starboard chain lockers of the ship, under­neath approximately 120 fathoms of anchor chain, 1,037 five-tael cans of smoking opium. Each can had affixed thereto a label with certain Chinese characters and the words “ Lo F ookee ” and a picture of an elephant and of an eagle. It was not learned who caused this unlawful importation, but the drugs were confiscated.

On June 10, 1929, customs officers seized from the steamship Modjokerto of the Java Pacific Line, a Dutch company, upon its arrival in San Francisco, on June 8, 1929, from the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, and the Philippine Islands. 300 five-tael cans of smoking opium. Au Hing and Leong Kwan, alias Ah Ping, Chinese members of the crew were charged with unlawfully importing these drugs. These cans bore no paper labels, but most of the cans bore the stamped figure of a rooster and an elephant, and the remainder bore the stamped figures of an elephant and an eagle.

On July 5,1929, the Japanese steamship Tcmjo M am of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Co.. arrived in San Francisco, Calif., carrying as one of its passengers Mrs. Kao Ying (Susie Kao) wife of Kao Ying. the Chinese vice consul at San Francisco. This woman had on board the ship 14 pieces of baggage, 11 of which were trunks in which were concealed 2,299 five-tael brass cans of smoking opium. It was learned that the vice consul and his wife, as well as Suen Foon. a staff member of the consulate at San Francisco, apparently were involved in this case. The cans bore labels with Chinese characters and the words “ Lam Kee Hop. Macao. Lai Yen.” The three persons named were returned to China, where they were tried in the lower court with the result that the vice consul and his wife were sentenced to imprisonment and ordered to pay fines, while Suen Foon was

I acquitted. The case was appealed, and the appellate tribunal modi- Ified the sentences as to the vice consul and his wife, and found th: t

14 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

Suen Foon was equally guilty, reversed the decision of the lower court as to this last-named person, and sentenced him to a term of imprisonment, whereupon the case was again appealed to the supreme

court at Nanking, where it is pending.On March 23, 1929, customs officers apprehended one Wong Suev

Chang, a Chinese, in possession of 54 five-tael cans containing 340,2 ounces of smoking opium and 24 additional cans, partly filled, con­taining an aggregate of 75 ounces of smoking opium. This seizure took place at the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. depot at Seattle, Wash. Some of these cans bore Chinese inscrip­tions and the words “ Lo Fook Kee ” and had stamped thereon pictures of a chicken and an eagle, while the remainder had Chinese inscriptions and the words “ Lam Kee, Macao ” with the stamped pictures of a chicken and an elephant.

On April 27, 1929, police and narcotic officers arrested Gong Say, aliases Lee Gong, Sing Kee, San, a Chinese, in Boston, Mass., in possession of 39 five-tael cans of smoking opium. Each of these cans had an outside waxed tissue paper wrapper which had stamped thereon in a circle, certain Chinese characters. The imprint of a rooster was on the top and an elephant on the bottom of each can. Each can was wrapped in a Chinese paper, red in color with Chinese writing nearly covering the wrapper. There was also a paper label affixed to each can, diamond in shape, bearing the following words “ Lam Kee Hop, Macao.” On June 7, 1929, this Chinese was sen­tenced in the State court to serve a term of one year and one day in jail. Due to this sentence imposed by State authorities, the accused was fined $5 in the Federal court.

7. Indian Hemp. (Marihuana.)

Indian hemp (cannabis sativa) is not indigenous. The early cul­tivation of hemp in the United States was of the small European variety, but this has been replaced since 1857 by the larger Chinese hemp. Practically all the seed fo r present-day American hemp culture is grown in the Kentucky Eiver Valley. It was originally grown in the New England colonies for fiber used in making of homespun. It was also grown in the Virginia and Pennsylvania colonies and was cultivated at a very early date in the settlements of Kentucky from whence it spread to Missouri. I t has been grown at various times in Illinois, near Champaign ; in the Kankakee Eiver Valley in Indiana; in southeastern Pennsylvania and in Nebraska, Iowa, and California. It is now abundant as a wild plant in many localities in western Missouri, Iowa, southern Minnesota, and in the Southwestern and Western States where it is found as a roadside weed. In 1928 approximately 2,400 acres of fiber hemp were grown

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 15

in the United States, 1,700 of which are cultivated in Wisconsin and about 300 acres in northern Illinois. A small amount is grown in Kentucky and in other parts of the country. The cultivation of fiber hemp is not now an extensive industry in the United States and, so far as can be learned, no narcotic principle is extracted from the cultivated plant. A small amount is imported for medical pur­poses. probably due to the fact that the imported variety is richer in cannabin, but during the year 1929 the total quantity imported for these purposes amounted only to 80 pounds of a total value of $712.

The production and use of cannabis indica (also known as hashish and marihuana) within the United States are not prohibited by Federal law, although by regulation under the food and drugs act, approved June 30, 1906, collectors of customs are directed to refuse delivery of all consignments of dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants of cannabis sativa upon notice of a representative of the Department of Agriculture of the identification thereof in the course of his examination of samples, unless the importer shall first execute a penal bond conditioned that the drug referred to will not be sold or otherwise disposed of for any purposes other than in the prep­aration of medicine. However, cannabis sativai is one of several drugs included under the antinarcotic laws of some 16 States, but these laws are not uniform. In one or two of the States the cultiva­tion of Indian hemp is prohibited, while in others the sale or posses­sion is prohibited except for medical purposes.

The abuse of this drug consists principally in the smoking thereof, in the form of cigarettes for the narcotic effect. This abuse of the drug is noted particularly among the Latin-American or Spanish­speaking population. The sale of cannabis cigarettes occurs to a considerable degree in States along the Mexican border and in cities of the Southwest and West, as well as in New York City, and in fact wherever there are settlements of Latin-Americans. In States along the Mexican border, cannabis cigarettes have been sold at 5 cents apiece, and the drug itself was obtainable at a price of $5 or $6 per pound. In New' York and the larger cities, the price is about 25 cents per cigarette and the drug itself ranges from $75 to $100, per pound.

Persons addicted to the use of cannabis sativa may obtain treat­ment for cure of the habit at one of the tw7o United States narcotic farms to be established under the act approved January 18, 1929, hereinbefore described.

It is possible that quantities of this drug are introduced into the southwestern part of the United States from Mexico, and enforce­ment officers have received information that supplies of the drug are

14239—30------3

16 TRAFFIC IN' OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

introduced into the city of New York by members of crews of vessels arriving from South American, Mexican, and Cuban ports.

8. Other Drugs to Which the Hague and Geneva Conventions Apply.

I N T E R N A L C O N T R O L O F L E G I T I M A T E T R A F F I C

The importation, manufacture, sale, and dispensing of narcotic drugs and preparations thereof for proper purposes is authorized through a system of registration of all persons or firms dealing therein commercially or professionally. The system is the same for all opium products and for coca leaves, cocaine, and preparations thereof. The internal revenue law (act of December 17, 1914, as amended) provides for the assessment and collection of annual taxes from persons or firms so handling narcotic drugs and requires regis­tration and payment of tax in one or more of five different classes defined as follows:

Class 1.—Importers, manufacturers, producers, and compounders. There were 291 registrants in this class on June 30, 1929. As will be hereafter shown, however, very few of this number import opium and coca leaves and extract alkaloids therefrom, the majority merely performing, upon narcotic drugs purchased from the few factories that extract alkaloids,, an additional manufacturing operation, such as changing the form. The importer, manufacturer, producer, or compounder attaches commodity tax stamps to each package, depend­ing upon content, upon removal from customs custody or from his premises, as the case may be. The possession of taxable narcotic drugs or preparations by persons not registered, unless such drugs or preparations have been obtained from a registered dealer in pursu­ance of a prescription issued for legitimate medical uses by a regis­tered practitioner (the labels on the containers so to indicate) or, unless obtained directly from the attending registered practitioner for legitimate medical purposes, is prima facie evidence of criminal liability under the law.

Clasx 2.—Wholesale dealers. There were 1,751 registrants in this class on June 30, 1929. These dealers are defined as persons or firms selling or offering for sale narcotic drugs and preparations in the original tax-stamped packages, exclusive of importers, manufac­turers, producers, and compounders selling or offering for sale pack­ages of their own stamping.

Class 3.—Retail dealers. There were 51,568 registrants in this class on June 30, 1929. These dealers are defined as persons or firms selling or dispensing narcotic drugs and preparations from original stamped packages ; that is, druggists filling prescriptions for nar­cotic drugs and preparations. Many of these dealers are also reg­istered in class 5 and some are also registered in class 2.

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 17

Class 4.—Physicians, dentists, veterinary surgeons, and other prac­titioners lawfully entitled to distribute, dispense, give away, or ad­minister narcotic drugs and preparations to patients upon whom they in the course of their professional practice are in attendance. There were 146,588 registrants in this class on June 30, 1929. The use by a patient of narcotic drugs is controlled by the attending practitioner, who is responsible for the use of all narcotic drugs or preparations dispensed in the case either directly or by prescription.

Class 5.—Manufacturers, producers, compounders, and vendors of preparations and remedies not subject to commodity tax because of low narcotic content. Such preparations are those containing not more than two grains of opium, or one grain of codeine, or one- fourth grain of morphine, or one-eighth grain of heroin to the ounce, and they may be sold only for medical purposes. There were 123,784 registrants in this class on June 30, 1929, but this number includes persons also registered in one or more of the other classes.

All registrants in classes 1 and 2 are required to submit monthly returns respectively of all importations, purchases, sales or transfers, and goods remaining on hand with respect to taxable narcotic drugs, and these returns are carefully checked. All sales or trans­fers of taxable narcotic drugs are required to be made pursuant to an official order form which must be prepared in duplicate by the vendee or transferee, who must be duly registered and who submits the original order form to the vendor or transferrer before the nar­cotics can be legally sold or transferred. Each party to the trans­action is required to retain his copy of the order form for a period of two years, subject to inspection by any authorized Government officer. Exception to this requirement of an official order form is made in cases where the sale is by a druggist pursuant to a medical prescription of a duly registered practioner, or where the sale is made or the drug is administered directly, in the course of professional practice, by a duly registered practitioner. Prescriptions for narcotic drugs are required to be kept by the retail dealer (druggist) for a period of two years subject to inspection by an authorized Govern­ment officer, and the practitioner is required to keep a record of nar­cotic drugs directly dispensed by him to a patient, except such as are directly dispensed by him while in personal attendance on the patient. Untaxed narcotic preparations (that is, those containing not more than 2 grains of opium, or not more than 1 grain of codeine, or not more than one-eighth of a grain of heroin, or not more than one-fourth of a grain of morphine, to the ounce) may be sold without reference to an official order form, but only for medical purposes.

18 TRAFFIC IN' OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

There are four firms which import crude opium for the primary purpose of extracting alkaloids therefrom for sale for medical pur­poses. The names and addresses of these firms are as follows :

Merck & Co. (Inc.), Rahway, N. J.Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis, Mo.New York Quinine & Chemical Works (Inc.). Brooklyn, N. Y.Hoffnjann-La Roche (Inc.), Nutley, X. J.

The last-named firm usually imports a small supply of opium biennially for the purpose of manufacturing their specialty, Pantopon, but did not manufacture Pantopon during the calendar year 1929.

There are two firms which import coca leaves for the purpose of producing cocaine therefrom, and one firm which imports a small supply of coca leaves for the purpose of manufacturing therefrom a medicinal extract which does not contain cocaine. The names and addresses of these firms are as follows :

Merck & Co. (Inc.), Rahway, N. J.Maywood Chemical Works, Maywood, N. J.H. K. Mulford Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

The first two firms above mentioned import coca leaves from which they extract cocaine, while the last-named firm imports the leaves for the purpose of manufacturing the extract mentioned. It w ill be seen that one of the firms mentioned, Merck & Co. (Inc.), also im­ports opium for the purpose of manufacturing alkaloids therefrom for medical purposes.

There are three firms which import comparatively small quantities of crude opium for the purpose of manufacturing medicinal opium therefrom. These firms do not extract alkaloids from opium, but manufacture tablets and pharmaceutical preparations from alkaloids which they purchase from the factories which extract alkaloids from the crude opium. The names and addresses of these three firms are as follows :

Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, Mich.Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Ind.Sharp & Dohme (Inc.), Baltimore, Md.

No manufacturer is limited by law or regulation to the manufacture of any particular derivative of opium or coca leaves, but no manufac­turer may produce heroin. In commercial practice, however, the distribution of manufacturing operations is as above stated.

Of the remaining registrants in class 1, some manufacture only one or two special medicinal preparations and many are primarily retail druggists who manufacture for their own trade tincture of opium and other standard narcotic preparations easily compounded.

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 19

M E D IC IN A L O PIU M

The figures for production and sale of medicinal opium and other opium derivatives by each manufacturer are not given, individual data being obtained for administrative purposes only, but combined figures showing total production and sale are included under this and other appropriate subheadings.

During the year 14,504 pounds (avoirdupois) of medicinal (de­odorized, granulated, and powdered) opium were manufactured. The net quantity of medicinal opium sold by manufacturers thereof amounted to 9,198.5 pounds (avoirdupois). Little medicinal opium is used for scientific purposes, and all quantities consumed as medicine are in combination with other (nonnarcotic) drugs. The sale, use, and possession of medicinal opium are regulated the same as the sale, use, and possession of morphine and preparations thereof.All exports coming under the heading of “ Opium ” consist of

medicines containing opium and opium in deodorized, granulated, or powdered form. The low opium content of the medicines ex­ported is evidenced by the following statistics :

Deodorized, granulated, and powdered opium and preparations containing opium exported from the United States, January 1, 1929, to December SI, 1929, bycountries

C o u n t r y of destina tionN e t

q u a n t i ty of op i»m

Q u a n ti ty of p ro d u c t exported

C o u n try of d es tina tionN e t

q u a n t i ty of op ium

Q u an ti ty of p ro d u c t exported

B r it is h H onduras........................N e w fo u n d la n d an d L a b ra d o r .

Ounces591013534938

1 9

20839

Ounces577119

2,07335463

20812887

1,136216

D u tc h W est In d ie s .....................C h in a ................... ...........................I n d i a . ...............................................

Ounces2

16115

4817

56

Ounces 28

298 18 6

28 4, 664

72 1,032

T o ta l.....................................D o m in ic a n R ep ub lic ................. 1,048 11,107

M O R P H I N E

Morphine and all salts, derivatives, preparations, admixtures, etc., thereof are forbidden by law to be imported or brought into the United States.

In recording and reporting manufacturing operations the quantity used in manufacturing is stated, but the drug proposed to be pro­duced is not indicated at the time, although completely reported when production is finished. Since a total of 164,183 pounds (avoir­dupois) of crude opium was used in manufacturing during the year and 14,504 pounds (avoirdupois) of deodorized, granulated, and powdered opium was produced, it follows that approximately

20 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

149,679 pounds (avoirdupois) were used in producing morphine, codeine, and dionin, and products thereof. The latter figure must be considered approximate only, as stated, because the quantity of crude gum opium required to produce 14,504 pounds of deodor­ized, granulated, and powdered opium, from the United States Phar­macopoeia standard, will vary to agree with the variance between the percentage of anhydrous morphine contained in the gum opium used and the precentage required for these United States Pharma­copoeia products. The United States Pharmacopoeia standard for deodorized, granulated, and powdered opium is not less than 10 per cent) nor more than 10.5 per cent of anhydrous morphine and for opium not less than 9.5 per cent. The opium imported seldom contains less than this standard and frequently yields s lig h tly more. Considerable variance in the imported material is noted.

Of morphine, during the calendar year 1929, there were manu­factured 114,323 ounces, this being morphine completely manufac­tured and intended for sale as such and not for conversion into codeine or dionin. During the same period there were manufactured 20.241 ounces of dionin. Products sold were manufactured either from opium used during the period or taken from stock previously produced for sale.

Sales of opium and opium derivatives by manufacturers thereof year ended

Opium (deodorized, granulated, and powdered, cfccasional sale of

Practically all of the foregoing sales were made to manufacturers of pharmaceutical preparations and to wholesale dealers selling to retail druggists, physicians, "hospitals, etc. ; few sales of morphine, codeine, etc., are made directly by the manufacturers thereof to customers of wholesale dealers. This is the commercial practice and not the result of any requirement of law. The quantities of opium and its derivatives purchased from manufacturers as a unit: that is, with the exception of those quantities purchased by pharma­ceutical manufacturers from manufacturers of alkaloids, w ill indi­cate the more immediate requirement of the population. Statistics indicating these quantities for the year are given below. The “ net

# quantity ” represents the actual quantity of the drug named, and the " taxable ” the quantity on which tax was paid at the rate of 1 cent per ounce or fraction thereof in a package.

December SI, 1929

gum ) — Morphine.

pounds (avoirdupois) 0,621.5

Codeine_____________Dionin______________Other opium products.

ounces 112.216—do 200,031— do 20.103— do 2.254

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 21

Opium, opium derivatives, and taxable preparations of opium and opium derivatives purchased w ith in the United States from manufacturers, year ended December 31, 1929

D rug N e tq u a n t i ty

T ax ab leq u a n t i ty

Opium.-------- --------- ---------------- -------- p oun ds (av o irdu po is) . .__________ ____ _____o u n ces..

9,198. 5 117,031

55, 352. 25 2, 656, 607

_________ ___________ do . . 162,439 761,011___ ___________________ d o ___ i 678 9,409__________ ___________ d o ___ 5,361 42, 863

Other opium d e riv a tiv e s-------- _________ ________ _ . .d o ___ 4,925 133, *69

Of the 678 ounces of hero in sold b y m an u fac tu re rs d u rin g th e year, 624 ounces, 196 grains rep resen t a transfer of stock from a single m a n u fac tu re r to a single w holesale dealer.

Very little pure morphine is exported from the United States. Practically all morphine exported is contained in pills, tablets, preparations, mixtures, and other pharmaceutical forms. Separate statistics are available for (1) morphine and pharmaceutical prod­ucts containing morphine, (2) the same for heroin, and (3) the same for dionin (ethyl-morphine hydrochloride). The figures for heroin are hereinafter included under that heading and figures for morphine and dionin are given below for the years ended December 31,1928 and 1929, by countries, to indicate increases and decreases.

Moritliine, dionin, and preparations thereof exported from the United States, years ended December 31, 1928 and 1929, by countries

]Exclusive of p repa ra tio ns con ta in ing no t m ore th a n one-fourth g ra in of m o rp h in e or d ion in per ounce)

C o u n try o f des tina tion

N e t q u a n t i ty , ounces

Q u a n ti ty

ounces

of prod- t a x a b l e

1928 1929 1928 1929

MORPHINE

1 1 69 51 3 33 257

34 3,442 3 ,232Costa Rica.......... ..................... ................ ............ ....................... . . . 8 5 784 400

4 2 375 2403 1 109 13

17 25 1, 534 8481 1 24 801 1 48 483 6 191 495

26 22 1, 370 1,712Dutch W est In d ie s__________________ _______ . ________ . . 1 1 19 36

59 64 5,168 5,7456 164 272

Haiti___ ____________ ______ 1 8 200 654China____________ ________ ________________ ______________ 17 12 1,448 1,152

1 2 432 8641 1 121

India.. 48 25 16, 796 9,214New Zealand________________ ________________ ________________ 1 1 85 117Bolivia 1 168Colombia..____ ______________________________ _______ 5 2 360 214British G uiana________ . . 1 1 82 80Peru__ 3 67 350 7,501V enezuela___ 30 36 2.600 3, 529West Africa___ 1 4

. . . 1 84

Total______________________________________________ _ 273 363 35. 926 36. 917

Honduras ______________N e w fo u n d la n d a n d L a b r a d o r .Haiti....

Total.,_____________

22 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

H E R O I N

No heroin is permitted to be imported or brought into the United States. As stated in previous reports, an act was approved June 7, 1924, prohibiting the importation of opium for the purpose of manu­facturing heroin. There was on hand, of course, a supply of heroin at that time which was not affected by the said act, but shortly after the» passage of the act, manufacturers discontinued the production of heroin from opium or morphine or other opium derivatives, even though such opium or its derivatives had been imported or manufac­tured prior to June 7, 1924. No opium or morphine was used dur­ing 1929 for manufacturing heroin and the manufacturers of alka­loids have now no stock of heroin on hand, although there are small supplies in some cases in the hands of pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale dealers, and retail druggists from which isolated sales may be made from time to time for special medicinal or scientific pur­poses, such sales not being prohibited.

All heroin exported is part content of medicinal preparations. Statistics are given below showing by countries, for the years ended December 31, 1928 and 1929, the net quantities of heroin exported with the quantities of the preparations containing such heroin.

Preparations containing heroin exported from the United States, years ended December 31, 192S and 1929

[Exc lusive of p repa ra tions con ta in ing n o t m ore th a n one-eighth g ra in of h ero in per ounce]

C o u n try of d estina tion

N e t q u a n tity , ounces

Q u a n tity of prod­ucts, taxable ounces

1928 1929 1928 1929

1 241 224

T o ta l ........................... ............................................................................ 241 1 224

Due to the act of June 7, 1924, prohibiting the importation of opium for the purpose of manufacturing heroin and to the substitu­tion of other drugs for heroin, there were not any sales of heroin during the year 1929 by parties who theretofore had manufactured the drug. The sales of heroin contained in preparations manufac­tured and sold by pharmaceutical manufacturers increased from 352 ounces in 1928 to 678 ounces in 1929—an increase of 326 ounces. Attention is again invited to the fact that the substitution for heroin of larger quantities of morphine and codeine to achieve the same medicinal effect necessarily, increases the total amount of crude opium

TRAFFIC IN’ OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 23

required to be imported for medicinal purposes, as the potential yield of morphine or codeine is practically the same as the potential yield of heroin from a given quantity of crude opium.

C O C A I N E

The coca plant is not grown in the United States. Neither cocaine, refined cocaine, or its salts or any preparation containing cocaine is permitted to be imported into the United States, the medicinal need for cocaine being met by domestic manufacture from crude coca leaves imported by the two manufacturers hereinbefore mentioned. Crude cocaine is not produced by manufacturers, practically all co­caine manufactured being in hydrochloride form.

Manufacturers marketing cocaine as such possessed an aggre­gate stock of 35,601 ounces at the beginning of the year and 8,614 ounces at the close of the year. Of the 35,601 ounces on hand at the beginning of the year, 3,176 ounces represented cocaine com­pletely manufactured and 32,425 ounces represented the quantity of cocaine which it was estimated would be obtained from coca leaves which had been reported used in manufacturing, the manufacturing process not having been completed. These figures do not include cocaine possessed by pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale deal­ers and other authorized distributors. I t was all in hydro­chloride form with the exception of a small quantity of refined alka­loid. The total amount of cocaine produced during the year was 40,358 ounces, 16,993 ounces of which represent cocaine produced from coca leaves placed in process during the year and 23,365 ounces represent cocaine completely manufactured from the 32,425 ounces in process of manufacture at the beginning of the year. The aggregate quantity of cocaine sold by the above factories for the year was 34,947 ounces—an increase of 5,588 ounces over the total sale for 1928, which was 29,359 ounces. The increased quantity sold during the year indicates a continued tendency on the part of the medical profession to return somewhat toward the use of this drug, in cases perhaps where the medical need has not been satisfactorily met theretofore by a synthetic substitute. Domestic purchases from all manufacturers amounted to 32,381 ounces in 1928 and 37,295 ounces in 1929.

Very little pure cocaine is exported. Statistics showing the quan­tity of cocaine exported with the quantity of products in which contained are given below for the years ended December 31, 1928 and 1929, by countries of destination.

24 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

Cocaine and preparations containing cocaine exported from the United States years ended December 31, 1928 and 1929

C o u n try of d estin a tion

A u stra lia____________ _________B erm u d a ............................B rit ish H o n d u ra s ____________B ritish W est In d ie s__________C a n a d a ______________________

C o lo m b ia____________________C o sta R ic a___________________C u b a ________________________D o m in ican R ep u b lic _________E c u a d o r______________________E n g la n d _____________________H a i t i_________________________H o n d u ra s____________________H o n g K o n g __________________N ew fo u n d lan d a n d L a b ra d o r_N ew Z ea lan d _________________N ica rag u a____________________P a n a m a ______________________P e r u _________________________U n io n of S o u th A frica________U ru g u a y _____________________V enezue la____________________

T o ta l ,

N e t q u a n tity , ounces

3 11

11

3311

101

13314 1

28

1929

1141015

193

Quantity of prod­u c t s , taxable ounces

1928 1929

686 1,70012

10 9882 367

37 6070 L _88 ! "Ï3710 4.30

5,664 I 11,403 46 1 43

144 _______12,302 7,832

1 4225 120

5 _____4 0 ; 45

261 I 20-------------------------- 3

124 170 1

700 _______35 ............40 ________

21,370 22.391

9. Illicit Traffic.

Results of enforcement of the penal provisions of the narcotic drugs import and export act and the Federal internal revenue laws imposing taxes with reference to the traffic in narcotic drugs during the year ended December 31, 1929. are as follows :

Narcotic drugs import and export act, January 1. 1929, to December 3J, J029

Criminal violations reported_________________________________ 34Cases tried in courts ___________________________________ 33Defendants involved_________________________________________ 40Convictions_________________________________________________ 33Acquittals -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7Per cent convicted__________________________________________ 82.5Penalties :

. Aggregate - sentences imposed___________________ 37 years, 4 months. 7 daysTotal fines imposed--------------------------------------------------------- $8,466.00

Number of vessels upon or in connection with which narcoticdrugs were seized on account of failure to manifest_________ 54

Amount of penalties assessed against such vessels_____________ 1 $498,508.24Amount of penalties collected________________________________ 110.681.25

1 A s t a t u t e p la c e s a l i a b i l i t y u p o n t h e m a s t e r in t h e a m o u n t o f $ 2 5 p e r o unce for each o u n c e o f s m o k in g o p iu m d is c o v e re d o n b o a r d h i s v e s s e l w h ic h h a s n o t been manifested. T h i s p e n a l ty a u t o m a t i c a l l y a t t a c h e s , b u t a f u r t h e r p r o v is io n o f th e c u s to m s law s gives to h im t h e r i g h t to file w i t h t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e T r e a s u r y a p e t i t i o n s e t t i n g forth the f a c t s wrh ic h in t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e l a t t e r o ffic ia l s h o u ld w a r r a n t r e l i e f b e in g g ra n te d from the* a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e f u l l p e n a l ty ; t h a t is , $ 2 5 p e r o u n c e . T h e p u r p o s e o f th i s provision i s to g r a n t t o a m a s t e r e q u i ta b l e r e l i e f w h e n i t is c le a r ly s h o w n t h a t h e h a s exercised e v e ry p r e c a u t i o n to p r e v e n t t h e b r in g i n g a b o a rd , b y m e m b e rs o f h is c re w o r passengers, o f n a r c o t i c d r u g s f o r i l l e g a l in t r o d u c t i o n in t o t h e U n i te d S ta t e s .

TEAFFIC IX OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 25

Hence, the penalties finally collected are but a small part of the penalties as originally assessed, due to the showing made by and on behalf of masters of preventive measures taken by them. The sum of penalties collected, $10,681.25, does not necessarily apply to assess­ments made against masters of vessels during the year 1929 in the total amount of $498,508.24 as the period required to settle these cases frequently extends beyond a year and a number of cases which occurred during 1929 have not yet been finally settled.

Federal internal revenue narcotic laws, January 1, 1929 to December 31, 1929

Criminal violations reported___________________________________ 10,133Cases tried in courts----------------------------------------------------------------- 5,498Convictions------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5,344Acquittals____________________________________________________ 154Per cent convicted------------------------------------------------------------------- 97.1Penalties :

Aggregate sentences imposed____________ 12,308 years. 9 months, 13 days.Total fines imposed________________________________________ $209, 740. 68

Cases compromised____________________________________________ 1,150Total amount accepted in cases compromised_____________________ $62, 082.04

The foregoing division of statistics of cases under the two prin­cipal Federal narcotic laws is approximately correct, although it is possible that in a few indictments under the internal revenue narcotic laws there were included charges against the same defend­ants for violations of the narcotic drugs import and export act. There is no special separately organized force of customs officers engaged exclusively in investigating and detecting violations of the narcotic drugs import and export act. Customs enforcement officers investigate violations of this act in connection with their general duty of enforcing all customs laws. The enforcement statistics with reference to the narcotic drugs import and export act reflect, in substance, the activities of customs enforcement officers, while those under Federal internal revenue narcotic laws reflect the activities of Federal internal revenue narcotic officers, of whom, an average number of 265 were engaged in such activities during the calendar year 1929.

No statistics are presented with reference to the results of enforce­ment of State laws or muncipal ordinances relating to the traffic in narcotic drugs, since it is believed that most of the States’ agencies cooperate with Federal officers in enforcing the Federal laws on the subject to the extent that statistics above given may be taken to represent substantially the results of narcotic-law enforcement gen­erally in this country.

As a result of a general inquiry made among the field narcotic enforcement officers of the several districts in which the United States is divided for enforcement purposes, a summary of prevailing

26 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

prices of narcotic drugs in the illicit market has been obtained and is compiled in the form of a statistical table which follows. This table represents the prices at which certain narcotic drugs are offered

for sale in the various territorial divisions, first in moderate whole­sale quantities of 1-ounce lots and second in the smaller re ta il quan­tities of one grain. These figures are obtained from officers who purchase drugs in the illicit market as a means of obtaining evi­dence against violators of the law. A marked general increase in the prices of narcotic drugs in quantities of one ounce or more, on the illicit market, will be noted in the following table over the prices quoted as of October 1,1928, as given in the table in a previous report for the fiscal year 1928. This is a fair indication of the relative scarcity of narcotic drugs in the illicit market, due to increased efficiency of narcotic-law enforcement.

S um m ary of prices of i l l ic it narcotic drugs in wholesale and re ta i l quantitiei, prevailing as of June 80, 1930

D ivis ion

M o rp h in e H e r o in

P e r ounce P e r g ra in P e r ounce P e r gra in

Boston_____________________________ _______ $85-$ 100 i $1.00 $60-$65 $1.00N ew Y o r k . ............... .......... .................................... 1 60 .50 40 .50P h ila d e lp h ia , ........................................................... 145- 90 $0.40- .50 1 30- 65 $ 0 .2 5 - . 50W ashington____________________ _________ 25- 120 .5 0 - 1 .0 0 1 25-200 .50-1.00

150- 200 1 1.00 (i) (2)N ash v ille____ ___________________________ 85- 125 .5 0 - 1.00 l 60 i .5 0 - .7 5D e tro i t____________________________________ 70 1.50 (=) (!)C h i c a g o . . ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 65- 80 .7 5 - 1.00 (!) (!)M in n ea p o lis_______________________________ 65- 85 1.00 >75- 65 i 1.50-2.00K a n s a s C i ty _______________________________ 100 1.00 ( ! ) (0S an A n to n io ......... .................................................... 100 1.00 90 1.00D e n v e r____________________________________ 1 100 2.00 ( ’ ) 12.00S ea ttle_______ _____________________________ 8 170 1 1.00 •300 1 1.75S an Francisco ......................... ............................. 1 150 1 1.00 (=) (’)H a w a ii__ ___________ ______________________ (*) (2) (2> (J)

C ocaine O p ium

D ivisionG u m P r e p a r e d

P e r ounce P e r g ra in

P e r po u n d P e r 5-tael tin

P e r g rain

B o s to n . . ................................................................... $60-$65 $1.00 (*) i $85-$130 i $0.20N e w Y o rk ______ __________________________ i 35 .50 i $75 i 90 1,10P h ila d e lp h ia .................. .......................................... 25- 55 $0.25- . 50 80 70 $ 0 .2 5 - . 50W a sh in g to n ......... .................................................... 20- 75 .25-1.00 $50-150 185 11.00Jack so n v il le____ _______ _________________ 60-120 .5 0 - .75 125 (2) (!)N ash v ille________ __________________ ______ i 65- 90 1 . 50-1.00 i 75- 85 1 35- 50 1.50D e tro i t____________________________________ 50 .50 (*) 125 .25C h icag o____________________ _____ _ ____ 50- 60 .75 1 60 1 125 1.05M in n ea p o lis ______________________________ 60- 75 .75-1.00 (2) 100 .20K an sas C i ty ......... ............... .......... ......................... 1 100 1 1.00 1 100 i 80 1.00S an A n to n io _______ ____ __________________ 45 .75 (2) (2) (3)D en v er______ __________ ________________ _ 1 50 1 2.00 (2) i 120 i .15S ea ttle______________________ _____ ________ 8 150 1 1.00 (2) * 190 1.50S an F ranc isco _____________________, . . ......... 1 150 * 1.0C 1 75 i 125 1.50H a w a ii________ ________ __________________ (*) (2) (*) 120-160 .06

1 L i t t le ava ilab le a t prices quo ted .1 N one sold.* N one availab le—ru m o red price quo ted

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 27

The quantities of narcotic drugs seized under the narcotic drugs import and export act and under the internal revenue narcotic laws are shown in the tables below :

Seizures at ports and borders under the narcotic drugs import und export act, January 1 to December 31, 1929

Opium______________________________________pounds (avoirdupois) 13, 368Morphine________________________________________________________ ounces— 293Cocaine--------------------------------------------------------------------------------do----- 20Miscellaneous drugs---------------------------------------------------------------do----- 1

Seizures in the continental United States under the internal revenue narcotic laws, January 1 to December 31, 1929

Opium_____________________________________ pounds (avoirdupois) *282Morphine________________________________________________________ ounces— 3 ,147Heroin_____________________________________________________ do----- 604Cocaine____________________________________________________ do------ 560Miscellaneous drugs---------------------------------------------------------------do------ 11

A rough classification can be made of the seizures under the nar­cotic drugs import and export act as having been made by Federal customs officers and of seizures under the internal revenue laws as having been made by Federal internal revenue narcotic officers, al­though this classification will not be accurate for the reason that frequently the two services collaborate upon investigations made at ports and borders, and in some cases, seizures made by either class of officers may be based upon both laws.

A fter being seized, narcotic drugs are duly confiscated to the United States and when no longer required for purposes of evidence in any criminal proceeding, are examined to ascertain whether any portion is suitable for medical or scientific use. Nearly all of the drugs seized are of doubtful purity and can not be used directly for medical purposes. Since it is possible for a portion to be re­worked to remove impurities, quantities have been reserved from time to time for transfer to a Federal governmental agency for emergency medical uses. Small quantities of narcotic drugs seized and available for immediate medical and scientific use are transferred to various Federal governmental agencies for such use. Quantities deemed practically worthless for medical use are destroyed from time

1 These f ig u re s i n c lu d e 2 ,4 5 9 p o u n d s o f s m o k in g o r p r e p a r e d o p iu m p r e v io u s ly r e p o r t e d herein u n d e r t h e h e a d in g “ P r e p a r e d O p iu m .” T h e d if f e re n c e b e tw e e n t h e t o t a l q u a n t i t y

of opium seized , 3 ,6 5 0 p o u n d s , a n d t h e q u a n t i t y o f p r e p a r e d o p iu m s e iz e d , 2 ,4 5 9 p o u n d s , equals 1,191 p o u n d s , w h ic h l a t t e r q u a n t i t y r e p r e s e n t s o th e r f o r m s o f o p iu m s e iz e d , p r i n ­cipally c ru de o r g u m o p iu m .

28 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

to time. Of narcotic drugs seized during the calendar yrear 192!) and accumulated from previous periods, the following supplies were transferred to the War Department for medical reserve, transferred to other governmental agencies for current medical or scientific use, or destroyed, as indicated :

D ru g

T o W a r D e p a r t ­m e n t for m edical reserve

T o o th e r govern ­m e n ta l agencies for use

Destroyed

O unces G rain s O unces G rains Ounces Grains

6,537 4

96 56456 108

689 118 16 890 293187 114313 261

12 171 55 3 7816.5

C. MISCELLANEOUS10. China.

The Government has no additional information to submit.

11. Other Drugs.

There were manufactured during the calendar year 1929, 225,131 ounces of codeine. Of this quantity, 22,865 ounces were natural codeine extracted directly from the opium and 202,26£ ounces were produced synthetically from morphine. No portion of this quan­tity of codeine was derived from the 114,323 ounces of morphine manufactured for sale as such, the codeine synthetically produced representing a quantity of crude opium additional to that used in manufacturing the 114,323 ounces of morphine. Morphine used for the synthetic manufacture of codeine, while of United States Pharmacopoeia standard, is not, prior to being converted into codeine, completed to the finished form of the morphine sold as such. While in theory a given quantity of morphine should produce a slightly greater quantity of codeine, it has been found in practice that it actually produces a considerably lesser quantity, so that the codeine reported represents a somewhat greater quantity of morphine from which it was produced.

Figures showing sales of codeine have already been given, for convenient comparison, under the subheading “ Morphine." Net sales of codeine, represented by quantities purchased from manu­facturers as a unit, increased from 124,435 ounces in 1928 to 162,439 ounces in 1929. or an increase of 38,004 ounces.

It will be remembered that codeine, being a derivative of opium, may not lawfully be imported into the United States. The exporta­tion and domestic sale and transfer of codeine are subject to the

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 29

same control as is morphine or any other derivative of opium. The comparatively small total volume of exports of codeine is shown by the following table :

C o u n try of des tina tio n

N e t q u a n t i ty , ounces

1928 1929

Q u a n ti ty of p ro d ­uc ts , taxab le ounces

1929

B e rm u d a ............... - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .British H onduras-------------------British West In d ie s ----------------C a n a d a ........................ ........ . . . . . . . . . . . .China..............................................Colombia - --------------------Costa Rica - --------------------Cuba------------------ ----------- ------Dominican R epub lic --------------Dutch West In d ie s -----------------Haiti.................. - ......... - .............. -H o n d u ra s ---------------------------------India., ........... ..............Mexico ----------------------------Newfoundland an d L a b ra d o r .N ic a ra g u a ---------------- ------ -P a n a m a ----------- ------- --------Union of South Africa------------V e n e zu e la ---------------------------------

Total-

4221

1375

1023

74329

11130

17

243250323715

1,125

2, 750

41214

71 1

150125

625

202102350

72 76

5270192

1,677

The Government has nothing to report with respect to any other narcotic drugs.

12. Additional Information and Suggestions.

Attention is invited to the statement in the previous report for the six months’ period from July 1 to December 31, 1928, that an epidemic of influenza was prevalent in large areas throughout the United States, particularly during the autumn of 1928. Morphine to some extent, and codeine and its derivatives to a greater extent, are understood to be used in the treatment of influenza and other serious respiratory diseases. The epidemic caused an increased de­mand for these opium derivatives and largely exhausted stocks of narcotics in the hands of physicians, druggists, wholesale dealers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and necessitated increased im­portations of crude opium and the manufacture thereof into the necessary derivatives, not only to provide for the current medical need but to replenish normal stocks of the various dealers and prac­titioners. Thus it is believed that the increased importation, and increased sale of opium derivatives for the year 1929 are in excess of normal medical needs on account of the development of an abnor­mal medical demand due to the epidemic.

Particular attention is invited to official figures which indicate the consumption for legitimate purposes within the United States of opium, its derivatives, and their salts, during the period. During

30 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

the year ended December 31, 1929, the quantity of morphine sold bv all manufacturers, less the quantity exported, totaled 117.031 ounces, which is probably a fair indication of the home consumption of this drug in whatever form required for legitimate purposes. Similarly, during the year ended December 31, 1929, net quantities of 9,198.5 pounds of opium in medicinal form, 162,439 ounces of codeine, 5,361 ounces of ethy 1-morphine hydrochloride and 678 ounces of heroin, were sold for domestic use. On the basis of the average assay of opium imported into the United States and the average actual yield obtained therefrom by manufacturers, 162,439 ounces of codeine sul­phate represent 73,747.31 pounds of opium; 5,361 ounces of ethyl- morphine hydrochloride represent 2,433.89 pounds of opium; 117,031 ounces of morphine represent 53,132.07 pounds of opium; and 678 ounces of heroin represent 307.81 pounds of opium. Similarly, 9,198.5 pounds of medicinal opium represent 7,524.37 pounds of crude opium. These total 137,145.45 pounds or 960,018,150 grains. Di­viding this figure by the estimated population 120,012,534 2 a per capita consumption for the year in terms of opium is obtained of 7.999 grains or 518.34 milligrams. This latter figure, it w ill be noted, includes the domestic consumption of all opium, its deriva­tives, and their salts, including codeine and its salts and derivatives, except such as are consumed in the form of preparations and com­pounds of such negligible narcotic content that no reports of sales are required. I f codeine and its derivatives were not subject to the same control as morphine and other more potent opium derivatives, and if, as a consequence, domestic sales of codeine and its derivatives were not taken into consideration, the per capita consumption of opium would be only 3.698 grains or 239.63 milligrams.

INSULAR POSSESSIONS, ETC.

The Territory of Alaska, the Territory of Hawaii, the insular possessions of the United States with the exception of the Virgin Islands, and the Canal Zone are amenable to the provisions of the act of December 17, 1914, as amended, regulating the importation and distribution of narcotic drugs and preparations. The Philip­pine Islands are not subject to the act of May'26, 1922, known as the narcotic drugs import and export act, but have local laws regulating importations and exportations of narcqtic drugs.

The provisions of the act of December 17, 1914, as amended, are administered in Alaska and Hawaii in the same manner as in any State in the Union. In Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands the

2 T h e e s t i m a t e d p o p u la t io n o f th e U n i te d S t a t e s o n J u n e 3 0 , 19 2 8 , w a s 120,012,534. N o l a t e r f ig u re s a v a i la b le .

TRAFFIC IN’ OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS 31

administration of said act is performed by the appropriate internal revenue officers of the governments thereof. Statistics showing the quantities of the various narcotic drugs shipped to these two possessions from the continental United States are given below :

P h ilip p in e Is lan d s P o r to R ico

D rug N e tq u a n tity ,

ounces

Q u a n ti tyof

p rodu cts,taxab leounces

N e tq u a n t i ty ,

ounces

Q u a n ti tyof

pro ducts ,taxab leounces

2 16 838 4,2717 40939 4,410

852162

20 323 2,236 41

515 800 12 910

78 663

PORTO RICO

Recently a special representative of the United States Commis­sioner of Narcotics visited Porto Rico for the purpose of ascertaining generally local narcotic conditions at first hand. He visited several of the large wholesale and retail drug stores and found their pur­chases and sales of narcotics to be comparatively small and their nar­cotic records efficiently kept generally. He interviewed many local administrative and judicial officials and learned that no narcotic drug seizures had been made in the course of any character of law en­forcement within the past two years. He was able to locate but one drug addict, a Porto Rican resident, who had been convicted of forgery, and who had apparently been obtaining a small supply of narcotics from a local practitioner who is now under investiga­tion. There may be a few other addicts in the island, but their supply is evidently not obtained from local dealers. There was no evidence to substantiate a rumor that narcotics were being smuggled into the island from Latin-American countries for transshipment to the United States. There does not appear to be sufficient demand for narcotics within the island to warrant smuggling of narcotics therein for local consumption.

VIRGIN ISLANDS

The narcotic drug situation in the Virgin Islands appears to be very satisfactory. Under the arrangement effective after April 15, 1927, by which lawfully authorized dealers and practitioners in the said islands can obtain a necessary supply of narcotic drugs for

32 TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

medicinal needs, taxable narcotic drugs shipped from the United States to the Virgin Islands for the calendar year ended December 31, 1929, were as follows :

D ra gN e t

q u a n tity ,ounces

Quantityof

products,taxableounces

1 1412

1

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

A statistical report for the Philippine Islands for the calendar year 1929, as well as the six months’ period from July 1, to December 31, 1928, will be submitted as a separate report. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining statistics in the proper form but the basic information is now available and the compilation will be com­pleted within a short time.

A report on the standard form is not submitted for Porto Eico and the Virgin Islands for the reason that there is no lawful impor­tation of narcotic drugs into said possessions except from the United States in quantities as previously shown. There is no domestic manufacture within these possessions and no exportation of narcotic drugs therefrom. There is no evidence of a local drug addiction problem excepting perhaps in a few isolated cases, and therefore drug smuggling is practically negligible.

o