Border guard : $b The story of the United States Customs Service — John Shaqi
Border guard : $b The story of the United States Customs ServiceWhitehead, Don
History
Border guard : $b The story of the United States Customs Service
Whitehead, Don
Customs administration -- United States; Smuggling -- United States; United States. Bureau of Customs; United States. Division of Customs
As soon as it was learned that the _Fernhill_ had cleared from Suez on
its way through the Canal to the Mediterranean, a cable was dispatched
to Halvorsen: ALL IN ORDER HERE. GIVE IT TO THE CAPTAIN.
A representative of the steamship company dispatched a message in
international code to the captain of the _Fernhill_ saying:
International signal book code only for the Captain. Confidential.
Halvorsen will hand over packages. Keep them safe until arrival
Boston. Cooperating with authorities here. Everything in order.
Immunity on condition that you handle in accordance herewith. You
must not discuss this with anybody else. Wire us following message
in code to me: Have acted as per your instructions.
On May 5 the _Fernhill’s_ skipper radioed:
The packages have been placed for safekeeping in the safe until
arrival Boston according your instructions. Receiver has photograph
of Halvorsen and first half of papers of introduction. Receiver’s
address Lew Gar Kung Saw, 854 Clay Street, San Francisco. Consignor
Shing Kee and Co., 54 Cameron Road, ground floor, Kowloon, Hong
Kong. Signed, Captain Carlson.
Eleven days later Customs Agents Dave Cardoza, Oscar Polcuch and Edward
Finnegan boarded a launch on the Boston waterfront and were carried
into the harbor to meet the _Fernhill_. They were greeted by Captain
Carlson, who took them to his cabin and handed over to them the sacks
of heroin. Then he summoned Halvorsen to his cabin and introduced him
to the agents.
Cardoza said, “I understand, Halvorsen, that you are willing to
cooperate with us in breaking up this smuggling ring.”
“I’ll do anything I can to help, sir,” Halvorsen said. “I’m sorry I
ever got mixed up in this.”
“We need your help,” Cardoza said, “and you have nothing to worry
about if you do as we say.” He warned Halvorsen that a member of the
smuggling ring might approach him when he went ashore in Boston--and he
must do nothing to create any suspicion.
Cardoza drew a rough map of the waterfront and showed it to the youth.
“You will get off the ship at this point,” he explained. “Walk over to
this corner and wait for a bus. When the bus comes along, get aboard
and take a seat as near the driver as possible. If anyone approaches
you about the heroin, tell them it is still aboard the ship and make
arrangements to meet them later. But don’t worry. Finnegan and I will
be on the bus with you. Get off the bus at this street and you’ll see
a restaurant on the corner. Go in and order a glass of milk--and sit
there until we come for you. Is this clear to you?”
“I understand,” Halvorsen said. “I’ll do as you say.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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