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The New York Times March 5, 1949
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SEIZURES REACH PEAK IN COCAINE AND HEROIN
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Special to the New York Times
WASHINGTON, March 4-- Seizures of cocaine and heroin last hear were on a scale
"unknown since before" World War II, Commissioner of Narcotics Harry J.
Anslinger and Acting Commissioner of Customs Frank Dow reported to Secretary Snyder of the
Treasury Department today. Captures of marijuana showed a high increase.
During 1948, seizures of heroin reached 1,044 ounces as compared with 818 in 1947. Cocaine
captures jumped from 36 ounces to 175 in the two years.
However, the total seizures of narcotic drugs fell from 7,894 ounces to 4,990. These drugs
include morphine, heroin, cocaine, demerol and amidone.
Marijuana seizures were no fewer than 48,822 ounces in 1948 as contrasted with 27,314 in
the previous year. In addition to bulk marijuana the seizures included 463 ounces of
marijuana seed and 24,635 marijuana cigarettes.
More than 3,000 pounds of marijuana were taken on the Mexican border. On dec. 19, the
largest seizure in twelve years came when 363 pounds were found at a Texas town called
Progress.
Total arrests for violating narcotic and marijuana laws increased from 2,827 to 3,895. Of
these, marijuana arrests went from 871 to 1,297.
Most of the illicit narcotics came from Mexico, Turkey, Iran and India. Important seizures
of heroin, cocaine and morphine were made on ships arriving from France, Italy, Chile and
Peru.
In their preliminary report, Messrs. Anslinger and Dow told of seizures in New York. The
"first important narcotic seizure in history" aboard a commercial airplane from
abroad came when ten pounds of heroin were found June 26, concealed in an Air France liner
from Marseille. Heroin was discovered among the crew of the Italian ship Vulcania early
last year and again in October.
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