Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Custom House and Dock Offices . . .

The foregoing newspaper reports provide a vivid insight into the lives of the custom house officers who must have faced intimidation and violent challenges almost on a daily basis complicated by language barriers and no doubt, drunken and loutish behaviour. Another example of smuggling follows a few years later where the powers of the Officers are clearly illustrated.

• April 1871 - Penarth - Smuggling - 'At the petty sessions, yesterday (before the Rev. H. H. Richards and Mr. J. S. Corbett), Mr. William Picken, Custom-house- officer, said that on the 15th inst. he went on board the Swedish ship 'Malta', now lying in Penarth Dock, in company of two other officers. In the forepart of the vessel they found a large quantity of foreign manufactured Cavendish tobacco. to muster all the crew. He asked each of the men if the tobacco belonged to them. They all denied any knowledge, except the three Maltese prisoners in the box. The weight of the tobacco found altogether was 242 lbs. Mr. Miller, for the Customs, applied for a remand, as the quantity being so large, and not in parcels of 8 lbs. each, rendered the captain and the whole of the ship's crew liable to a fine of £100 each. The ship had been seized. The case adjourned until Monday.' Western Mail [036] [361] 18th April 1871.

• April 1871 - The Smuggling Case - 'Mr. Waldron appeared for the Inland Revenue, and Mr. Ensor watched the case of Captain Golloher, the master of the ship 'Malta'. The three Maltese sailors, named Michael Costa, Michael Sciaro, and Carmela Ruggier, were brought up in custody. Mr. Miller said he had applied for the remand to enable him to get instructions from London. Mr. William Picken, officer of Customs, said the tobacco was in eight lumps ; the largest lump would weigh about 30 lbs. (one of the lumps was here produced, it was composed of small cakes of excellent Cavendish tobacco, pressed firmly together, forming a lump of about 18 inches square and 8 inches thick.) The three prisoners admitted the tobacco was their property. When asked what they would have done with it, they replied that they intended to sell it to the marine store dealers. Michael Costa had been fined previously for having 3½ lb. of cigars and 2 lb. of tobacco in his possession. Mr. Chas. Kerr, outdoor officer of Customs, said on the 15th inst. he was engaged on board the Swedish ship 'Malta'. In rummaging the ship in the fore part of the vessel, underneath a lot of rubbish he discovered six large pieces of tobacco. The largest piece would weigh about 30 lbs. He was left in charge of the tobacco. . . . .