yO RA K T ABOHIVF.'-'

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May 2 7 t h , 1927 .

adv iso ry cQ.n:ia?T3 i: o$r t r a f j i c i n o p iu m / jsd oh ls? , d / j - g . ^ c u s d ' i u g s ,

S e i z u r e of D r r. a t Ha p i ? 6»

Com m unica ted "by th e G overnm en t o f I t a l y ,

' o t e "by th e o e c r e t a r y . r a i ,

The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l h a s t h 3 h o n o u r t o c i r c u l a t e t h e a t t a c h e d d o c u m e n t f c r ' t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e s Members of t h e . . e a g u e , t h e P a r t i e s to th e Hague C o n v e n t i o n o f 1912 and t h e members o f th e A d v i s o r y Ccmmit'oee on T r a f f i c i n Opium and o t h e r

D a n g e r o u s D r u g s .

uion i r o n ta l i e n .

O f f i c e of t h e H igh Com m iss ion f o r t h e P r o v i n c e o f H a p l e s .

M arch 2 2 n d , 1927 .

l o t h e M i n i s t r y o f

a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c H e a l t hHOME

R e f e r r i n g t o y o u r t e l e g r a m of t h e 1 5 t h i n s t a n t , I am

fo rw a rd in g p a r t i c u l a r s o f t h e b r i l l i a n t o p e r a t i o n c a r r i e d o u t

t y the R o y a l R e v e n u e C o r p s i n r e g a r d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g m a t t e r :

She D i r e c t o r o f C us tom s a t Maples», h a v i n g l e a r n e d

th a t th e s . s . 71 U m br ia" , o f t h e b . I » T .H . à . R . , n o u l d a r r i v e h e r e

- ; i th f o r t y - t v o c a s e s d e c l a r e d to c o n t a i n to m a to s a u c e , b u t

a c t u a l l y c o n t a i n i n g c o c a i n e an d op ium . On t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e

s team er on F e b r u a r y 2 7 t h l a s t , one o f f i c e r and s e v e r a l n o n

commiss ioned o f f i c e r s and men o f t h e T a x a t i o n ( D e t e c t i v e ) F o r c e

ci th e R o y a l R e v e n u e C o rp s v e n t on b o a r d , an d h a v i n g s a t i s f i e d

k e p t a c a r e f u lth e m s e lv e s t h a t th e c a s e s ' / e r e on b o a r d ,

over t h e g o o d s to p r e v e n t t h e i r e n t e r i n g I t a l y o r o t h e r goods

be ing s u b s t i t u t e d d u r i n g t h e s h i p ' s s t a y i n p o r t .

They n o t i c e d t h a t t h e G r e e k , C h r i s t o V a s d e k i , a

Wskrupti m e r c h a n t r e s i d i n g i n H a p l e s and a l r e a d y knovm t o t h e

Taxation ( D e t e c t i v e } F o r c e a s a s u s p e c t e d p e r s o n , was on b o a r d „

The p r e s e n c e of V a s d e k i gav e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t o t h e R e v en u e

o f f i c e r and h i s men t h a t he h ad some c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e a r r i v a l

01 the s u s p e c t e d c a s e s =

E n q u i r i e s w i t h r e g a r d t o h i s j o u r n e y t o bmyrna

confirmed t h e f a c t t h a t t h e f o r t y - t w o c a s e s h a d b e e n l o a d e d b y

him on b o a r d t h e U m b r i a . On b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d , V a s d e k i s t a t e d

that he h a d gen e t o Swy-ja s p e c i a l l y on b e h a l f o f S i g n o r J o s é

Antonio P u i g , cl A m e r i c a n , t o p u r c h a s e f o r t / - t w o c a s e s o f opium,

and t h a t lie h ad / a i d f o r i t w i t h f u n d s s u p p l i e d by P u i g , who had

sent two t h o u s a n d s e v e n h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g t o h im a t S m y rn a ,

He added t h a t t h e g o o d s i n Q u e s t i o n c o n s i s t e d of one t h o u s a n d

ki logrammes o f o >ium, w h ic h he h a d d e c l a r e d a s t o m a t o s a u c e t o

save f r e i g h t , a n d t h a t , a s shown on t h e b i l l c f l a d i n g , t h e go o d s

v .e re c o n s i g n e d t o lia p i e s f o r t r a n s i t .

On f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n and i n t e r r o g a t i o n i t was

a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t P u i g had / in s t r u e te d V a s d e k i t o p u r c h a s e o l i v e o i l ,

in Greece an d had s e n t h im t h e am oun t i n q u e s t i o n f o r t h i s

purpose; and a s e a r c h c a r r i e ■. o u t i n V a s d e k i 1 s o f f i c e i n ITaples

r e v e a le d a s u i t - c a s e c o n t a i n i n g two p o t s , h o l d i n g r e s p e c t i v e l y

one k i log ra m m e and h a l f a k i l o g r a m e o f op ium . A q u a n t i t y of

c o r re s p o n d e n c e w as s e i z e d , w h ic h p ro r e d b e y o n d d o u b t t h a t he

e e n e n g a g e d i n t h e oilium t r a f f i c s i n c e D ecem ber 1986ue

V a s d e k i c o u l d n o t p r o d u c e a n y c o m m e r c i a l c c r r e s l o n d e n c o

”’i t i l f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s t o s u b s t a n t i a t e t h e d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e

Sçods w ere c o n s i g n e d to ITaples f o r t r a n s i t , an d t h i s s t a t e m e n t

proved to h a v e b e e n made on t h e b i l l o f l a d i n g m e r e l y a s an

obvious p r e c a u t i o n .

... 3 -

I t v;as c l e a r t h a t th e A m e r i c a n , S i g n o r J o s é

A n to n io P u i g , and othe.v s u s p e c t s , w e re n o t r e s p o n s i b l e (with

the r e s u l t t h a t P u i g lo d g e d a c o m p l a i n t of f r a u d a g a i n s t

V a s d e k i ) a n d , t h e R o y a l R e v en u e C o r p s h a v i n g c o l l e c t e d

amply s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e to p r o v e an a t t e m p t t o sm uggle

t h i s c o n s i g n m e n t o f opium, V a s d e k i was d e n o u n c e d t o t h e

J u d i c i a l A u t h o r i t i e s t h r o u g h t h i s o f f i c e and was a r r e s t e d ,

n o t o n ly on - U i g ^ c o m p l a i n t o f f r a u d , h u t a l s o f o r a t t e m p t i n g

to i m p o r t one t h o u s a n d and e i g h t k i l o g r a m m e s o f op ium , a

p u n i s h a b l e o f f e n c e u n d e r A r t i c l e 35 o f R e g u l a t i o n H o -2534 d a t e d

Kovember S t h , 1 9 2 3 , f o r t h e e x e c u t i o n of Lav; H o «376 of

F e b r u a ry 1 8 t h 1923 on th e s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e i l l i c i t t i rade i n

n s r c o t i c s and A r t i c l e 1 c f t h e same l a -J a and f o r u n l a w f u l

p o s s e s s i o n o f 1 ,5 0 0 legs , o f op ium , a n o f f e n c e u n d e r A r t i c l e 1

c f th e a f o r e s a i d la :? , a n d s u b j e c t t o t h e p e n a l t i e s f o r

sm uggl ing w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e C u s to m s Laws now i n f o r c e .

I t a p p e a r s t h a t V a s d e k i w as e x o n e r a t e d b y t h e e x a m i n i n g

m a g i s t r a t e f ro m t h e c h a r g e o f f r a u d and was r e l e a s e d c I s h a l l ,

how ever , be a b l e t o s e n d you f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n l a t e r on t h e

s u b j e c t , and t o i n f o r m you i n due c o u r s e c f t h e r e s u l t of t h e

p r o c e e d i n g s f o r t h e o f f e n c e s a g a i n s t t h e l a w s and r e g u l a t i o n s

r e g a r d i n g t h e t r a d e i n n a r c o t i c s .

( S i g n e d ) C a p i a l t r i ,

E i g h C ommieiû o n e r .

OOMIlàin) O TdE TAaATIOK J DETECTIVE) FORCE.

STATEMENT OF .CHARGE,

o f f r a u d , a t t e m p t e d s m u g g l in g o f f o r t y - t « v o oaaea

c o n t a i n i n g a l t o g e t h e r OKS THOUSAND A1ÏD EIGHT

KILOGRAMMES o f op ium , n e t t w e i g h t , a n d u n l a w f u l

p o s s e s s i o n o f OHE KILOGPALZIE FIVE KUEDRED G R A M S

o f o p iu m , a g a i n s t C h r i s t o VASDEKI, s o n o f t h e l a t e

G i o v a n n i V - j â e k i a n d M a r i a C o n t o p o l o , h o rn a t Volo

( G r e e c e ) on J a n u a r y 2 9 t h , 1 8 7 5 , a n d d o m i c i l e d a t

H o . 14 V i a G iu s e p p e F i o r e l l i , N a p l e s ,

Om i '^roih 3 r d , 1 9 2 7 , w e, t h e u n d e r s i g n e d an

O f f i c e r a n d men o f t h e T a x a t i o n ( D e t e c t i v e ) f o r c e o f th e

Roya l Revenue C o ip s a t t h e o f f i c e o f t h e D i r e c t o r ©f t h e

F o r c e , r e p o r t to t h e c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y a s f e l l o w a :

"The D i r e c t o r o f Customs a t K a p i l s h a v i n g l e a r n e d

t h a t t h e s s . " U m b r i a " , o f t h e 3 . I . T . M . A . E . , w ou ld a r r i v e

h e r e w i t ' h f o r t y - t w o c a s e o d e c l a r e d a s c o n t a i n i n g t o m a t o

s a u c e , h u t a c t u a l l y c o n t a i n i n g c o c a i n e and op ium , on F e b r u a r y

27 th l a s t we a w a i t e d t h e a r r i v a l o f t h a t s t e a m e r w i t h a v ie w

to k e e p i n g a c a r e f u l w a t c h on t h e goods i n q u e s U o n , t o

p r e v e n t t h e i r e n t e r i n g o r o t h e r goods b e i n g s u b s t i t u t e d

d u r i n g t h e s h i p * s s t a y i n p o r t .

A t a b o u t noon t h e s s . " U m b r ia " a r r i v e d , a n d a t

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 3 0 p .m . sh e b e g a n t o d i s c h a r g e h e r p a s s e n g e r s

and c a r g o . W h i l s t two n o n - c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r s o f t h e F o r c e ,

f rom a b o a t s p e c i a l l y e n g a g e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e , and a l s o f r o m

th e w h a r f , w o re c o n t i n u a l l y k e e p i n g w a tc h on t h e 42 c a s e s ,

w h i c h h a d b e e n b r o u g h t up f ro m t h e h o l d an d p l a c e d i n a b a r g e ,

and w h ic h t h e y h a d r e c o g n i s e d by t h e mark A 3 . , l i e u t e n a n t

Ugo F i n i z i o an d S e r g e a n t - M a j o r A l f o n s o A l v i n o made e n q u i r i e s

-5-on b o a r d t h e "U m bria" an d n o t e d t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e b a n k r u p t

Greek m e r c h a n t , O h r i s t o V a s d e k i , r e s i d e n t i n N a p l e s , a

pe rson who was a l r e a d y known to a n d s u s p e c t e d by t h e

T a x a t io n ( D e t e c t i v e ) F o r c e . The p r e s e n c e on b o a r d o f V a s d e k i

who h a d come f ro m Smyrna gave t h e o f f i c e r and t h e s e r g e a n t -

major t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t he h a d seme c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e

a r r i v a l o f t h e s u s p e c t e d c a s e s . I n t h e me a n t i me , t h e s e h ad

been c a r r i e d on th e b a r g e t o a p o i n t n e a r t h e c o o k - h o u s e o f

the S o c i é t é I m p r e s a I m b a r c h i e S b a r c h i , on th e S a c r a m e n to

h a r f , w h e re t h e y w ere mixed u p w i t h o t h e r goods and c o v e r e d

over w i t h a b i g t a r p a u l i n . As i t was n o t p o s s i b l e u n d e r

th e se c o n d i t i o n s t o e x e r c i s e e f f e c t i v e s u p e r v i s i o n f ro m th e

w h a r f , i t was d e c i d e d t o p l a c e a g u a r d o v e r t h e s u s p e c t e d

goods, and f o u r men o f t h e F o r c e w e r e p l a c e d on b o a r d t h e

b a rg e , w h e re t h e y r e m a i n e d f ro m t h e a f t e r n o o n o f t h e 2 7 th

u .n t i l a b o u t 1 1 a . m . on t h e m o r n in g o f t h e 2 8 t h , when t h e

barge was e v e n t u a l l y towéd. i n t o t h e p r e c i n c t s o f t h e

M andracch ic Customs E o u s e .

GSn t h e same m o r n in g f t h e 2 8 t h ) a s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s

r e g a rd in g t h e o b j e c t o f V a s d e k i r s j o u r n e y t o Smyrna c o n f i r m e d

the f a c t t h a t t h e 42 c a s e s h ad b een l o a d e d by h im on b o a r d t h e

"Umbria" , L i e u t e n a n t F i n i z i o , who h a d d e t a i l e d S e r g e a n t - M a j o r

A lfonso A l v i n o t o shadow t h e G r e e k , d e c i d e d t h a t V a s d e k i h i m s e l f

sh o u ld be a r r e s t e d , a n d be r e q u i r e d t o a p o e a r a t t h e Command

O f f i c e o f t h e r ' o r c c . On b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d t h e r e , V a s d e k i

d e c l a r e d t h a t he h a d gone to Smyrna s p e c i a l l y on b e h a l f o f

S i g n o r J o s é A n t o n i o P u i g , a n A m e r i c a n , to p u r c h a s e 42 c a s e s

of opium, an d t h a t he h a d p a i d f o r i t w i t h f u n d s s u p p l i e d by

P u ig , who h a d s e n t two t h o u s a n d s e v e n h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g

to him a t Smyrna „

He a d d e d t h a t t h e goods i n q u e s t i o n c o n s i s t e d of

a p p r o x i m a t e l y a t h o u s a n d k i lo g ra m m e s o f op ium , w h ic h ho h a d

- o—

d e c l a r e d a s t o m a t o s a u c e t o s a v e f r e i g h t , and t h a t , a s shown "by

th e " b i l l o f l a d i n g , t h e y w o re c o n s i g n e d t o T a p i n g f o r t r a n s i t ” .

Ho shewed t h e d e l i v e r y n o t e i n r e s p e c t o f t h e g o o d s , w h ic h

ho h a d h a d made o u t i n t h e name c f h i s c l e r k , T;?rr s t o V c l p e ,

and s a i d t h a t P u i g , t h e p re su m e d owner o f t h e g o o d s , was s t a y i n g

a t t h e H o t e l M e t r e p o l e a t B a p l e s . He f u r t h e r d e c l a r e d t h a t h o

was i g n o r a n t o f t h e l a w r e l a t i n g to t h e t r a n s i t o f n a r c o t i c s ,

and, s a i d , i n r e p l y to a q u e s t i o n , t h a t t h e " b u s in e s s ho tween

h i m s e l f a n d P u i g was known t o S i g n o r A n d r e a i l - n o , a t r a d e r

whose o f f i c e s w ore a t 6 6 , V ia C o n te O l i v a r e s =

W h i l s t s t e p s w e re "being t a k e n t o t r a c e P u i g an d

I l l a n o , t h e S . I .T . M .A .P , Company was a s k e d f o r a c e r t i f i e d

copy o f t h e " b i l l o f l a d i n g f o r t h e goods i n q u e s t i o n , a n d

t h i s copy c o n f i r m s t h e f e e t t h a t t h e s h i p m e n t was made a t

Smyrna by V a s d e k i .

The same a f t e r n o o n , F e b r u a r y 2 8 t h , S i r n o r A n t o n i o P u i g ,

son of t h e l a t e . P e l l e g r i n o , d u l y p r e s e n t e d h i m s e l f a t t h i s

e r f i c e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s , a n d , on b e i n g

i n t e r r o g a t e d , s t a t e d t h a t he was b o r n a t H av an a ( C u b a ) , t h a t

ho was 34 y e a r s o f ago and a Cuban s u b j e c t , and was a t p r e s e n t

s t a y i n g a t t h e h o t e l M é t r o p o l e , and t r a v e l l i n g i n I t a l y f o r

b u s i n e s s and p l e a s u r e . As he c o u l d o n l y s p e a k S p a n i s h ,

S i g n o r A n d r e a M i l a n o , who a c c o m p a n ie d h i m , a c t e d as

i n t e r p r e t e r .

P u i g s t a t e d t h a t he h a d made t h e a c q u a i n t a n c e o f

V a s d e k i a b o u t a f o r t n i g h t a f t e r he a r r i v e d f ro m A m e r i c a , n a m e ly

b e tw e e n J a n u a r y 2 0 t h a n d 2 5 t h o f t h i s y e a r , an d h a d b e e n

i n t r o d u c e d by S i g n o r A n d r e a M i l a n o , who t o l d h im t h a t V a s d e k i

was a c o m p e t e n t p e r s o n t o e f f e c t t h e p u r c h a s e o f a c o n s i g n m e n t

of t h i c k o l i v e o i l t h a t P u i g w i s h e d t o t a k e away when he l e f t .

•n g a i d t h a t V a s ê o k i h a d a g r e e d t o u n d e r t a k e t h i s h u s i n o s a ,

and had s a i l a d f o r G r e e c e to p u r c h a s e t h o o i l , b e c a u s e h a

would the T3 be a b l e t o p r o o u r c- t h e t h i c k , v a r i e t y t h a t was

required-, He a d d e d t h a t h e h a d s e n t t h e amount o f two t h o u s a n d

gaven h u n d r e d po u n d s s t e r l i n g t o V a s d e k i a t nth .ans to p u r c h a s e

the o i l , and t h a t h e h a d n o t so en h im a g a i n .

In r e p l y to a q u e s t i o n ho s a i d t h a t ho h a d n e v e r

had any o t h e r b u s i n e s s w i t h V a s d e k i , arid t h a t he h a d n e v e r

i n s t r u c t e d h im t o p u r c h a s e op ium , a n d h a d no k n o w le d g e c f

tho 42 o a s e s w h i c h h a d a r r i v e d on th e " U m b r i a " .

A f t e r V a s d e k i Ts d e p o s i t i o n s h a d b-a^n r e a d zc

him t h r o u g h t h e i n t e r p r e t e r , P u i g f i n a l l y s t a t e d t h a t

a l l V a s d e k i * s a s s e r t i o n s w e re e n t i r e l y f a l s e .

P u i g and H i l a n o w e re p r o v i s i o n a l l y r e l e a s e d and

worn r e q u i r e d t o p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s a t t h i s o f f i c e on

th.i f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g .

I t was t h e n d e c i d e d to s e a r c h V a s d e k i 1s o f f i c e

a t IJo.5 V i a S a l v a t o r e F u s c o ,

The s e a r c h was c a r r i e d o u t i n t h e p r e s e n c e

of V asdek i h i m s e l f by l i e u t e n a n t F i r , i z i c an d some

non-com m iss ioned o f f i c e r s u n d e r h i s o r d e r , an d r e s u l t e d i n

tho d i s c o v e r y o f a s u i t —c a s e c o n t a i n i n g two p o t s h o l d i n g

r e s p e c t i v e l y o n 3 k i l o g ra m m e and h a l f a k i l o g ra m m e o f op ium ,

'a i ich V a s d e k i s t a t e d he h a d i m p o r t e d , w i t h o u t da o l a r i n g

them, when t h e " U m b r ia " a r r i v e d on t h e p r e v i o u s d a y .

-8/ 9-The two p o t s u e r e c o n f i s c a t e d . The p o l i c e o f f i c e r a l s o

se ised a s e r i e s of t e l e g r a m s e x c h a n g e d b e t w e e n V a s d e k i end

Signor Mid r e a M i l a n o , u s i n g t h e t e l o g r a p b i o a d d r e s s " S i b o n e y " ,

v/hioh l o r e no r e f e r e n c e t c op ium . d.e a l s o c o n f i s c a t e d l e t t e r s

from th e S o c i a t a P e l l e g r i n o & C o , , o f ( k l a t a ( T u r k e y ) $ t d d r o s s e d

to V asdeki a t f a p i e s and d a t e d J a n u a r y 1 6 t h and 1 7 t h , 19 2 7 . w h ich

r e f e r r e d to n e g o t i a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g op ium ; t h e d r a f t o f a memor

andum f ro m V a s d e k i d a t e d S m y rn a 5 F e b r u a r y 1 4 t h , 1 9 2 7 y end a d d r e s s e d

to r‘Det.r F r i e n d ” a t C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , i n w h ic h V a s d e k i a s k e d t h e

addressee t o meet h im v;hen t h e S „S. "U m b r ia" r e t c h e d C o n s t a n t i n o p l e

on F e b r u a r y 2 1 s t , and t o p r o c u r e a s a m p le cf opium c o n t a i n i n g 10

to lOg'/o morphj no } and t o quote t h e b e s t p r i o e he c o u l d t o c l o s e

the d e a l ,

The u n d e r s i g n e d w i s h t o draw t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e c o m p e t e n t

a u t h o r i t y t o t h e f & c t t h a t when t h e 1'U m b r ia ” a r r i v e d a t

C o n s t a n t in o p le s h e was a l r e s d y e n r o u t e f r o m Smyrna t o Hap l e s ,

4»nd Vasdeki, ? o r2z i z x i ; r 2c$ had therefore a l r e a d y loaded t h e 42

O'-ses, nevertheless ho was still asking for samples o f opium

et Constantinople, w h ich shows t h a t he was engaged i n t h e trade

£nd t h a t h i s trt.de was carried on in I t a l y ; otherwise he w ou ld

bi-ve no reason for t a k i n g t h e two pots of opium t o his office i n

via Salvatore Fusco^ Haples* T h e se a r e evidently t h e two pets

rece ived f ro m h i s a c c o m p l i c e a t C o n s t a n t i n o p l e .

A n o t h e r l e t t e r c o n f i s c a t e d shows t h a t V a s d e k i , w r i t i n g

irom Smyrna on F e b r u a r y 1 6 t h , 1 9 2 7 , i n s t r u c t e d h i s d e s p a t c h

o lo rk , E r n e s t o V o l p e , a t I l a p l e s , t o a r r a n g e t h a t t h o f o r t y - t w o

Ccises ex t h e rr,JZBHIû.‘T s h o u l d be removed t o some p l a c e whoro t h e y

could be more e a s i l y d i s g u i s e d b y moans o f l a b e l s , w i t h o u t

t - U r a c t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e C u s to m s .

- 10-

Those i n s t r u c t i o n s and p r e c a u t i o n s would hav e b e e n u s e l e s s

■ nd s u p e r f l u o u s i f t h e opium had r e a l l y b e e n c o n s i g n e d t o N a p le s

for t r a n s i t 3 a s V a s d e k i h i d a r t f u l l y i n d i c a t e d and had e n t e r e d on

the M i l o f l a d i n g a t S m y rn a .

The w t o v e - m e n t i o n e d d o c u m e n ts a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e r e p o r t o f

the s e a r c h .

On t h e e v e n i n g o f t h e 2 8 t h , V a s d e k i was r e l e a s e d and a l l o w e d

to r e t u r n t o h i s own h o u s e , w h i c h , h o w e v e r , was w a t c h e d , and n e x t

morning he was i n s t r u c t e d t o a p p e a r a t t h e Cus tom H o u s e , w h e re t h e

l i r e c t o r , i n t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e u n d e r s i g n e d and a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

ef the S . I . T . M . . & . R . , s h i p p i n g compt-ny, and V a s d e k i h i m s e l f , had

thrao of t h e f o r t y - t w o c a s e s o p e n e d , sud t o o k o u t one p o t f r o m each

s u sa m p le . The w h o le c o n s i g n m e n t was t h e n s t o r e d i n a s p e c i a l

u i l d in g , and on b e i n g w e ig h e d t u r n e d t h e s c a l e a t one t h o u s a n d

eight hundred tn d e i g h t y - e i g h t k i l o g r a m m e s , g r o s s , and one

thousand c.nd e i g h t k i l o g r a m m e s n e t , ( one t h o u s a n d and e i g h t p o t s of

one ki logramme e a c h ) .

•i. r e p o r t was drawn u p and s i g n e d , and was d e p o s i t e d w i t h t h e

Customs.

V&sdeki was t h e n i n s t r u c t e d t o p r e s e n t h i m s e l f a t t h i s o f f i c e ,

o which S i g n o r A n t o n i o P u i g and S i g n o r ü n d r o a M i la n o had a g a i n

06n summoned. F i r s t o f a l l t h o l a t t e r was q u e s t i o n e d . A f t e r

t u t in g t h a t ho had known P u i g f o r u a n y y e a r s , h a v i n g b e e n h i s

’-is t outer f o r f o o d s t u f f s , he spoke o f t h e o b j e c t o f P u i g T s j o u r n e y

0 -L't ‘- l y , and c o n f i r m e d w h a t P u i g had s t a t e d t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g

9g c rd in g t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s g i v e n t o V a s d e k i t h r o u g h h im to p u r c h a s e

He c o n f i r m e d h a v i n g e x c h a n g e d t h e c o n f i s c a t e d t e l e g r a m s wi h

' -ùdeki , and s a i d t h a t a t f i r s t i t had b e a n a g r e e d t h a t P u i g ,

“-'-ompanied by M i l a n o , s h o u l d p r o c e e d t o . a t h e n s t o s u p e r i n t e n d i n

ï - r son t h e p u r c h a s e o f a t h o u s a n d q u i n t a l s of o i l , b u t t h a t t h i s

- 11-

ta been i m p o s s i b l e e a he h t à "boon u n a b l e t o o b t a i n c p a s s p o r t ,

sfleki, who w cs t h e n e t A t h e n s , had u r g e d t h a t t b s p r i c e o f t h e

| l should bo r e m i t t e d t o him,, an d f u i g t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t o r o m i t

j:0 thousand s e v e n h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g t h r o u g h t h e I o n i e n

k a t A t h e n s . Some d a y s a f t e r t h e d e s p a t c h o f t h e money ,

usdeki t e l e g r a p h e d t h a t he hod p o s t p o n e d h i s d e p a r t u r e on a c c o u n t

it the w rack o f t h e S..S, ?ûd6 i n e r c ” , and hod d e o i d e d t o c o n s i g n t h e

gcods "by t h e S . S . " U m b r ia " , t h e s h i p b y w h ic h he a c t u a l l y a r r i v e d .

Milano t h e n d e n i e d h a v i n g n e g o t i a t e d w i t h V a s d e k i f o r t h e

l irchcse of op ium , and s t a t e d t h a t P u i g c o u l d n o t h a v e done so w i th o u t

bis knowledge,

In v iow o f t h e r e s u l t s c f M i l a n o * s i n t e r r o g a t i o n , M i l a n o ,

l u g , and V a s d e k i wore exam ined t o g e t h e r . The f i r s t two e n t i r e l y

confirmed t h e i r p r e v i o u s s t a t e m e n t s , and so d i d V a s d e k i , who.

Bowever, w i sh e d t o add t h a t on t h o m o r n i n g c f t h e 2 8 t h , a t 1 0 c 1 c l o c k

lo had gone t o _ l i l a n o Ts o f f i c o a t 6 6 , V ia Con te O l i v a r e s , t o r e p o r t

B is e f z lT c l w i t h t h e f o r t y - t w o o y s o s - f op ium , and t h a t , h a v i n g

found L i i t .no , he hud a l s o t o l d him t h a t t h e r e w e re no l a b e l s on t h e

| J-t s : to w hich M i l a n o had r e p l i e d t h a t he w ould s u p p l y l a b e l s .

'■iusdoki f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t he had i n f o r m e d M i la n o t h a t he had

"ought two sample b o x e s o f opium w i t h h im and t h a t he i n t e n d e d t o

them o v e r when he met P u i g a t t h e H o t e l lie t r e p o l e . He added

Phai h sd sp o k e n t o M i l a n o a b o u t t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w hioh had

L- ison w i th t h e Banco C o m m e rc ia le i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h o r e m i t t a n c e

-f the two t h o u s a n d s o v e n h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g , and f i n a l l y

t h a t t h e p r o f i t on t h e opium t r a n s a c t i o n w a s t o bo d i v i d e d

--..•«con h i m s e l f and M i l a n o . When i n t e r r o g a t e d r e g a r d i n g t h e s e

- ' -- ton.ents, i , - i lsno d e n i e d h a v i n g s p o k e n t o V a s d e k i on t h e 2 8 t h i n s t . ,

t'b 1 0 o 1 cloc-lc. V c s d o k i t h e n asked t h a t t h e cone i e r g o t t

t h e b u i l d i n g i n which Mil;vnor s o f f i c e w l s s i t u a t e d a t

6 6 , V i t G o n t o O l i v a r e s s h o u l d bo i n t e r r o g a t e d . end

Sorgot»nt'-Mtij o r ^ l f o n s o A lY ino and C o r p o r a l C u r i o C i o o s r i

wero s o n t t o v u o s u ion h e r . Tho n-ouiaa i n q u e s t i o n ,

G iu so p p in n Gaadagno i n R a s p a c l i , s t a t e d t h a t on t h o

p r o c o d i n g m o m l n g V a s c o k i . who vus Lucv.'n t o h e r , had

asked f o r I i i l t . n o . and she had r e p l i e d t h a t Mi I s no was

o u t , w h e r e u p o n Y as t ick ! w ent aw ay .

i-t t h o same t i m e , e n t i r e a M i l a n o 1 s o f f i c e was

s e a r c h e d and a f i l e e n t i t l e d ' ' ^ o o t t o G r i c e o 1927"

( i . e . , G re e k C i l V a s d e k i I S £7) c o b t a i n i n g v a r i o u s t o i ;

c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h o s e f c u r d i n Y a s d o k i : s o f f i c e , was

s e i s e d .

The f c c t t h a t t h i s f i l e was f o u n d e n t i t l e d ’’G reek

Oil V a s d o k i ,: c o n c l u s i v e l y p r o v e d t h a t M;i l a n e and P u i g

tad c o m m is s io n e d V a s d e k i t o b u y o i l , and n o t t o b u y

tho c o n f i s c a t e d op ium .

T h e re i s , h o w e v e r , o t h e r p r o o f o f V a s d c k i Ts d i s h o n e s t y ,

On t h o n i g h t o f t h e 1 s t i n s t , , a f t e r t h e j o i n t

e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e t h r e e men, a l a w y e r named A l b e r t o T r i o l a ,

of S a p l e s , wont t o M i l a n o 1 s h o u s e a t m i d n i g h t and made

‘-n a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h h im i n t h o h a l l f o r h a l f pasb e i g h t

i n t h e m o r n i n g .

- 13 -

Tho n e x t m o r n in g a t h a l f p a s t e i g h t T r i o l a a g a i n

scat to . lAlano ' s h o u s e and t o l d h im t h a t i f P u i g w i t h d r e w h i s

s t a t e m e n t ana i f ho d i d n o t l o d g e a c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t V a s d e k i ,

the l a t t e r would r e t u r n t h e amount r e c e i v e d to p u r c h a s e t h e o i l .

.Alano t h o u g h t i t a d v i s a b l e to accompany T r i e l a to t h e H o t e l

; .u t ropole to s e e P u i g , and r e p e a t t h i s p r o p o s a l , b u t P u i g

r e p l i e d t h a t he would n o t chan g e a s i n g l e word i n h i s s t a t e m e n t s .

On the m o r n in g o f t h e End i n s t . a l l t h i s was r e p o r t e d to

L ieut . Ugo x ' i n i s i o and t h e men o f t h e i o r c a by S i g n o r A n d ro a

.Mlano, and was commit to d to w r i t i n g . The n e x t p e r s o n to

bu> i n t e r r o g a t e d was ^ r n e s t o V o l p o , s o n o f t h e l a t e M a r i a n o ,

employed i n V a s d e k i 1 s o f f i c e , who s t a t e d t h a t he had a lw a y s

uig e r s t o o ô t h a t t h e z o x t y - two c a s e s c o n t a i n e d tom a to s a u c e ,

and t h a t he h ad a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n s f ro m V a s d e k i

to a r r a n g e w i t h t h e S . I . T .M .A .B . f o r t h e c a s e s , on a r r i v a l , to

be p la c e d i n a sh e d r a t h e r t h a n i n t h e Cus tom s H o u s e , so t h a t

the l a b 3 I s m i g h t be a t t a c h e d . He a d m i t t e d h a v i n g gone t c

meet V a s d e k i " h e n t h e "U m b r ia" camu i n , and h e l p e d h im to g e t

of f w i th h i s b a g g a g e , w h i l e V a s d e k i v i s i t e d th o C u s t o m s , and

declared t h a t he was c a r r y i n g some jam made f ro m G re e k f r u i t .

T h i s e x p l a i n s how / a s d e k i s u c c e e d e d i n s m u g g l in g 1 i n

the two p o t s o f o p iu m w h ich were found i n h i s s u i t c a s e .

I n t h e m e a n t i : i u , y e s t e r d a y , t h e 2nd i n s t . , a t 12 o 1 c l o c k ,

•Ugnor A n t o n i o P u i g a p p e a r e d b e f o r e L i e u t . Ugo i i n i z i o and

^ a r g t . - M a j o r s G i u s e p p e G a l a and M ra n c e sc o G r a n o l l i a t t h i s

•iffiOti, and w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f S i g n o r A n d r e a Ai l a n e who

acted a s i n t e r p r e t e r , l o d g ed a w r i t t e n c o m p l a i n t o f f r a u d

age i n s t V a s d e k i f o r t h o am ount o f £ 2 , 7 0 0 .

The f o r e g o i n g shor ts t h a t P u i g and M i l a n o w ere n o t

P a r t i e s to t h e op ium t r a n s a c t i o n , and t h a t t h e y o n l y n e g o t i a t e d

1 th v a s d e k i f o r th o p u r c h a s e c f o i l , f o r w h ic h t h e y r e m i t t e d

to him th o l a r g e sum o 1 two t h o u s a n d s e v e n hundro-d pounds

s t e r l i n g .

- 14 -The c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a f t e r w a r d s s e i z o â i n V a s o c k i *s

I o f f ice p r o v e s b eyond d o u b t t h a t he had b e e n e n g a g e d i n t h e

cpiuza t r a f f i c s i n c e Be comber o l s t , 1926 , w h e r e a s P u i g a r r i v e d

in I t a l y on J a n u a r y 5 t h , 1927 , and made t h e a c q u a i n t a n c e o f

Vasdeki a b o u t t h e 2 0 t h o r 2 5 t h o f t h e sa n e m o n th .

We, th e u n d e r s i g n e d , m a i n t a i n t h a t t h e a s s e r t i o n t h a t ho had

purchased t h e o p ium on t h e A m e r i c a n 1 s b e h a l f was a fable-

invented b y V a s d e k i , w ho , when a p p l y i n g f o r op ium i n December

1926 to two f i r m s i n Sm yrna and C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , spoke o f a

f r iend who was a r r i v i n g f ro m A m e r i c a to buy two o r t h r e e

thousand k i l o g r a m m e s o f op iu m . T h i s f r i e n d c o u l d c e r t a i n l y

not be P u i g , whom he o n l y m e t by c h a n c e , t h r o u g h S i g n o r A n t o n i o

1 ' i lano, a t t h e end o f J a n u a r y . S i n c e t h e r e i s no o t h e r

f o re ig n e r who c o u l d have c o m m is s io n e d V a s d e k i to p u r c h a s e th e

opium, and V a s d e k i was u n a b l e to p r o d u c e any c o m m e r c i a l

co r re sp o n d e n c e w i t h f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s , t h o d e c l a r a t i o n

"Naples f o r t r a n s i t ” on t h e b i l l o f l a d i n g was c l e a r l y f a l s e ,

and v/as s i m p l y a n o b v i o u s p r e c a u t i o n »

F-oi t h e s e r e a s o n s , and b e c a u s e o f t h e l e t t e r w r i t t e n

■from Smyrna by V a s d e k i to h i s c l e r k ^ r n e s t o V o l p e , g i v i n g h im

i n s t r u c t i o n s to p r e v e n t t h e p o t s b e i n g op: nee by t h e Customs

in t h e i r o r i g i n a l s t a t e , n a m e l y , w i t h o u t t h e n e c e s s a r y l a b e l s

to l en d a d d i t i o n a l c r e d e n c e to t h e d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e y

c o n ta in e d to m a to s a u c e ; and l a s t l y b e c a u s e i n V a s d e k i 1 s o f f i c e

one and a h a l f k i l o g r a m m e s o f op ium w ere fo u n d i n two p o t s ;

'to, t h e u n d e r s i g n e d m a k in g t h i s r e p o r t , m a i n t a i n t h a t th.. r e i s

amply s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e to p r o v e t h e a t t e m p t to i m p o r t

c o n t rab an d i n t h e s h a p e o f one t h o u s a n d ana e i g h t k i l o g r a m m e s

° f opium. l e t h e r e f o r e a r r e s t e d C h r i s t o V a s d e k i y e s t e r d a y

4 p . m . , and b y t h e p r e s e n t r e p o r t we d e n o u n c e him to th e

P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r a t N a p l e s , on t h e c h a r g e o f d e f r a u d i n g

Antonio P u i g , Cuban s u b j e c t , s o n o f t h e l a t e P e l l e g r i n o . , o f

two t h o u s a n d s e v e n h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g , a s shovm i n t h e

c o m p la in t lo d g e d b y h im and a n n e x e d h e r e t o ; o f a t t e m p t i n g

to im p o r t one t h o u s a n d and e i g h t k i l o g r a m m e s o f o p ium ,

a p u n i s h a b l e o f f e n c e u n d e r A r t i c l e 35 o f R e g u l a t i o n I o „ 2 5 3 4

of November 9 t h , 1923 , f o r t h e e x e c u t i o n o f Lav/ i lo , 396 o f

F e b r u a r y 1 8 t h , 19 2 3 , on t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e i l l i c i t t r a d e

in n a r c o t i c s , and A r t i c l e I o f t h e same Law, and u n l a v / f u l

p o s s e s s i o n o f 1 k i lo g ra m m e 500 grammes o f o p iu m , p u n i s h a b l e

o f f e n c e "under A r t i c l e 1 o f Law ivo .396 o f F e b r u a r y 1 3 t h , 1923 ,

and s u b j e c t to t h e p e n a l t i e s f o r s m u g g l i n g w i t h i n th e m e a n i n g

o f t h e Cus toms Laws now i n f o r c e .

Two o r i g i n a l c o p i e s o f t h i s r e p o r t hav e b e e n m ade ,

one o f w h ic h w i l l be f o r w a r d e d , w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l d e p o s i t i o n s

and d o c u m e n ts d raw n up and w i t h t h e r e p o r t o f V a s d e k i 1 s a r r e s t ,

to t h e P u b l i c P r o s e c u t o r a t m a p l e s f o r f u r t h e r a c t i o n , and t h e

o t h e r , w i t h c o p i e s o f t h e an nexes . , t o t h e D i r e c t o r o f Customs

a t l i a p l e s , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f d r a w i n g up th e f i n a l r e p o r t i n

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e Cus toms Laws on c o n t r a b a n d ,

A copy o f t h i s r e p o r t w i l l be f o r w a r d e d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n

'to t h e H ig h C o m m is s io n e r i o r t h e P r o v i n c e o f l i a p l e s , t h r o u g h

the Command H e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e T e r r i t o r i a l L e g i o n c f t h e R o y a l

Revenue C o rp s a t l i a p l e s ,

A f t e r b e i n g t a k e n to t h e p o l i c e s t a t i o n f o r

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f o r m a l i t i e s , a s a f o r e i g n e r , C h r i s t o V a s d e k i

was c o n f i n e d a t 4 p .m . y e s t e r d a y i n t h e P o g g io Re a l e P r i s o n ,

where he r e m a i n s a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f t h e j u d i c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s ,

The o p iu m c o n f i s c a t e d i n V a s d e k i ! s o f f i c e i s

d e p o s i t e d i n t h e l i a p l e s Cus tom s w a r e h o u s e , w h e re t h e f o r t y - t m ,

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