We love exotic tales of ye old San Francisco--especially when rich, smooth opium, not meth, was the preferred drug of choice. We came across this ancient news story of a San Francisco opium bust on the wonderfully titled blog If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats:
Chinese Consul's Wife Arrested for Dope SmugglingSan Francisco -- A diplomatic tangle involving the United States and China arose following the discovery of opium and contraband laces and silks worth $600,000 in the trunk of Mrs. Ying Kao, wife of the Chinese Vice Consul at San Francisco. This photo shows John Toland, U.S. Appraiser's custodian, holding two of the opium tins found in the trunk belonging to Mrs. Ying Kao. (1929)
