Cocaine as we all know is probably the most misused drug in Great Britain today, it was once considered to be the drug of the pop star or the filthy rich, sadly no longer as the streets are literally awash with it. Cocaine isn't a new drug by any means and before the Great War was a common ingredient in medicines used for treating hay fever as it cleansed the respiratory track by reducing the swelling of mucus and the nasal discharge....snot to you and me. and was put on the Dangerous Drugs Register in 1920. The following story comes from the pages of the Salford City Reporter, March 1922 and tells of a Cuban seaman, Aurelio Perez who hadn't quite got the hang of selling drugs and appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with being in unlawful possession of cocaine Detective Inspector Mitchell told the Court that, the police had been told that Perez had been seen on Trafford Road, Salford asking people if they wished to purchase any cocaine, and had put two of his detectives on the case. Detectives Squire and McPhail took up observations and saw Perez approach several people and ask them if they wanted any cocaine, they decided to arrest him and took him to Regent Road, Police Station, a search revealed that he had four bottles in each was ten grammes of cocaine, 40 grammes in total. He told the officers that he had found the drugs outside the shipping offices on Trafford Road, that old chestnut.. he was charged with unlawful possession, he replied that he was going to take the drugs home. Further enquiries into Perez revealed that he had failed to register himself as required by The Alien's Order of 1920. A witness by the name of William Walker gave evidence and told the Court that he was in the Shipping Office when Perez called him outside and asked if he wanted to buy some cocaine, which he naturally refused. As to the offence under The Aliens Order Act, Sergeant Smith told the court that Perez had been living on Trafford Road since November 1921 but had failed to register with the police, he then suggested that Perez had refrained from signing the register because of his trafficking in the drug. Detective McPhail said that he had ascertained that Perez had paid frequent visits to Liverpool where it was believed he had obtained the drugs, but it was thought it had come from Rotterdam originally. The Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr W.P. Atkin imposed a fine of £20 on him or the alternative of 51 days imprisonment, and for failing to register he was fined £1 or a further 13 days imprisonment. Inspector Mitchell told the Magistrate that he had been given an order for the prisoners deportation for being an undesirable alien, as he had been engaged in serious drug trafficking. Perez was then taken into custody with a recommendation that he be deported granted by the Magistrate, and an order for the seizure of the drugs was granted. So, Mr Perez was bundled onto a ship and sent back to Cuba to live a quiet and normal life, which I somehow think he didn't. Who would have thought it drugs close to Salford Docks....
