OPIUM TRAFFIC IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000300070024-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 16, 2001
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: June 15, 1971
• Content Type: OPEN

WI f
E 5872
Approved For Relea 2 / IA- 7360029 030 070024-
CONGRESS16 x ensions o ernar s u.1
15,
ment in Veterans' Administration hospi-
tals.
The VA has made plans to provide 30
special units to care for narcotics vic-
tims by July 1972, with five units already
in operation capable of treating 200 ad-
dicts each. Yet those dishonorably. dis-
charged prior to the enlightened Pen-
tagon policy still cannot receive VA
treatment.
Therefore, I am introdcing today a bill
which would authorize the Administrator
of Veterans' Affairs to provide care and
treatment for ceraain former members of
the Armed Forces addicted to narcotic
drugs. The "certain" members are those
who were discharged dishonorably, be-
cause of drug addiction.
I believe it is important for the Armed
Forces to assert national leadership in
identifying drug abusers, and once recog-
nized, Insure that treatment and re-
habilitation are available to all who have
served their country. This is no less im-
portant for those addicts now serving on
active duty who are now receiving treat-
ment as it is for those who were treated
punitively in being released dishonorably
from the Army. Military leadership in
handling the drug problem would be a
distinct contribution toward the abate-
ment of this national tragedy.
The bill which I am introducing today
provides the possibility of treatment for
thousands who have been sent home with
an addiction which is all too often sup-
ported by regular criminal activity. It
is madness to allow the military to return
addicts to civilian life and not provide
for their treatment.
rOPIUM TRAFFIC IN INDOCHINA,
HON. JEROME R. WALPIE
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, June 15, 1971
Mr. WALDIE. Mr. Speaker, I would
like to include in the RECOSD a news ar-
ticle on the recent testimony of John E.
Ingersoll, Director of the Bureau of Nar-
cotics and Dangerous Drugs, before the
House Select Committee on Crime dur-
ing hearings on the importation of opium
into the United States. The article was
written by Tom Foley and appeared in
the Los Angeles Times on June 3.
Mr. Foley's coverage of the proceed-
ings of that day are excellent and de-
scribe some of the startling findings we
learned on the involvement of the gov-
efznnents and some high officials in many
Southeast Asia countries in illegal drug
traffic.
I commend this article to the atten-
tion of all who have an interest in this
have an interest in heroin traffic to American
servicemen In Vietnam.
In testimony before the House Crime
Committee, John E. Ingersoll, director of the
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs,
also said Heroin had been unwittingly
smuggled into South Vietnam on airplanes
of the CIA-operated Air America.
Committee Chairman Claude Pepper (D-
Fla.) and other members urged the Ad-
ministration to take a stronger stand with
foreign friendly governments to force a halt
to illicit drug traffic.
These included Turkey and France, which
respectively grow and process the overwhelm-
ing amount of the opium smuggled into the
United States as heroin.
RIGHT TO ASK AID
"We're committed to risk our oven cities
in a nuclear war if any French city is at-
tacked by the Communists," Pepper said,
"and we have the right not only to ask but
to demand that the French take emergency
action to help us."
Ingersoll, who recently returned from dis-
cussions with Southeast Asia leaders on the
heroin problem, said he doubted that any
policy-making officials of the countries--
Thailand, Laos and South Vietnam-are in-
volved in the illicit drug traffic.
Burma, Thailand and Laos account for
about 80 percent of the world's opium pro-
duction, he said.
But he told newsmen after the hearing
that many lower-lever officials, including
members of the South Vietnamese Legisla-
ture, deal in opium. He said some legislators
have friends in President Nguyen Van Thieu's
cabinet.
Ingersoll told the committee that heroin
refineries were under control of insurgents in
Burma and Thailand but that those In Laos
are protected by. elements of the royal
Laotian armed forces.
RAMPARTS DISCLOSURES
He said that while management and own-
ership of the Laotian refineries appear to be
primarily in the hands of ethanic Chinese
citizens of that nation. "some reports sug-
gest" that a senior Laotian air force officer
may have an ownership interest In some of
the plants.
When Rep. Jerome R. Waldie (D-Calif.)
noted that Ramparts magazine had identi-
fied the official as Gen. Ouane Rathiqoune,
Ingersoll replied that "general speculation"
conceded this.
Ingersoll denied one contention of the
Ramparts article. It maintained that rem-
nants of Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang
army left in the area are involved in heroin
production and are in the employ of the CIA
for operations on the China mainland.
But Ingersoll conceded that Air America
planes had been used in the past for smug-
gling heroin-Just as regular commercial
airliners have been used to smuggle it into
the United States.
He told newsmen later that 80 kilograms
wore seized on an Air America plane at the
huge Tan Son Hut Air Base outside Saigon
only three or four weeks ago. '
Waldie also asked
During the hearing
,
Ingersoll about a Ramparts report that the
secret CIA base of Long Cheng, used to sup-
port the U.S.-paid Meo tribesmen, was a dis-
tribution point for heroin to be shipped into
South Vietnam.
Ingersoll said he had not heard of that.
However, he later said he had discussed the
general illicit drug problem with CIA Direc-
ASIAN OFFICIALS PROTECT HEROIN SALE, PANEL tor Richard Helms. He said Helms denied the
TOLD-THEY MAY PROFIT FROM SUPPLYING CIA was involved In any way, and that he
DRUGS TO U.S. SOLDIERS, NARCOTICS CHIEF believed him.
SAYS "The Meo tribesmen are something else,"
(By Thomas J. Foley) Ingersoll said, "but I don't blame the CIA
WASHINGTON.-The government's chief for what the tribesmen do."
narcotics enforcement officer said Wednes- t POOR CIA SECURITY
day that officials of friendly Southeast Asia Waldie said CIA security was apparently
governments are protecting and may even "abysmally poor, since those in the CIA em-
[From the Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1971]
ploy used the base and facI10Ivs for the Illicit
traffic."
The narcotics chief soug it to allay criti-
cism by congressmen of U-9. efforts to get
the cooperation of the Asla,i governments to
crack down on the drug tri l&:.
He said the United States had virtually no
leverage over the Burma gavcrnment, since
the last existing aid prograic is being phased
out. The opium-growing area in Thailand?is
in the hands of insurgent s, Ingersoll said,
but the Bangkok governme it is taking steps
to try to control it.
He said Laotian officials w,rr "most respon-
sive" even though some l igii-ranking offi-
cials were involved.
VIETNAM SM.UGO-LI:IG
Ingersoll said the Saigon government had
taken several steps to crack down on the
smuggling, including a sh:,kr.up of its cus-
toms officials, an increase n the size of Its
central police force dealing with the problem
and the appointment of a ~p.,cial task force
by President Thleu.
He also said he was assigning three addi-
tional agents to the Far East and that the
.Defense Department had placed off limits
HON. FRANK h ORTON
IN THE HOUSE OF REPI 5 ENTATIVES
Tuesday, June a i, 1971
Mr. HORTON. Mr. f1ib'aker, during
these times, when, on one nand, the pa-
triotism of some of our Nation's finest
leaders is questioned; al id when, on the
other, it is often scorned to be patriotic,
we must stop to consider what the flag
and patriotism actually mean.
Sunday, in Rochester, N. Y., in my con-
gressional district, I attended a flag cere-
mony at the Rochester Polish People's
Home. It was the first flag raising at the
home, I would like to share the ceremony
with my colleagues for it vividly made the
significance of the flag 'lear to all who
attended.
Mr. Ray Gatz, president, of the home,
introduced the guests, who represented
local, county, State, and Federal legis-
lative bodies, as well as tie Polish-Amer-
ican and American Legion Posts.
Officials included Rocaester Mayor
Stephen May, State Assemblyman Ray-
mond Lill, City Councilman Urban Kress,
Monroe County Legislators Nicholas San-
taro and Sam Poppick.
County Judge Arthur Curran also at-
tended. Judge Curran was especially
aware of the value of the flag. He re-
cently received the flag from the coffin
of his son, a marine, wac was killed in
Japan.
Also present were Janus O'Grady, com-
mander of the Michalski Post; Joseph
Zabuchek, commander of the Pulaski
Post; Joseph DeMcis, commander of the
Monroe County American. Legion Post;
and Edmund R. Przysirdii, president of
Hudson Avenue Area As.iociation.
During the ceremony. presented a flag
which had flown over the Capitol to Mr.
Gatz. It was blessed by Father Pietrzy-
kowski and raised by Mr. Gatz. County
Commander DeMeis led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000300070024-6
 Approved For Release 2002/0192: P731300296R000300070024-6
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
Journal - Office of Legislative Counsel Page 2
Thursday - 10 June 1971
3. (Internal Use Only - JGO) Met with Mr. Michael Reed,
Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the House, Carl Albert, and
reviewed with him the correspondence from , from
concerning a custody of children decree relating to
, employed by Air America, Inc. in the Far East.
expressed his appreciation for my coming by and said he would
contact Air America directly. He did not question the fact that neither the
Agency nor the Department of State could be of any assistance in this matter.
Neither the Department nor the Agency has any jurisdiction over the
individual. DDS/HB, has been advised. No further
action is required with regard to the letter of 3 June from the Speaker.
4. (Secret - JGO) Met with Mr. Frank Slatinshek, Assistant Chief
Counsel, House Armed Services Committee, who told me that he thought 25X1D
this morning's budget briefing of the Chairman had gone extremely well.
5. (Secret - JGO) Met with Messrs. James Wilson and W. H. Boone,
House Science and Astronautics Committee staff, and briefed them on the
Soviet "J" vehicle.
6. (Internal Use Only - JGO) Met with Miss Jean Gordon,
Administrative Assistant to Representative Charles Gubser (R. , Calif. ),
and thanked her for her assistance in putting the Ingersoll letter in the
Record earlier this week.
7. (Confidential - JGO) Talked to Mrs. Mary McLaughlin, Senate
Foreign Relations Committee staff, who told me that the transcript of the
Director's briefing on Brazil of 5 May would be ready for return to the
Agency at close of business.
8. (Confidential - JGO) Met with Mr. John Brady, House Foreign
Affairs Committee staff, and delivered to him a blind memorandum
entitled "Recent Trends in the Illicit Narcotics Market in Southeast Asia."
M:r. Brady originally requested the paper from Mr. Harvey Wellman,
Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Narcotics Matters. Mr. Brady
was complimentary both in his attitude and remarks about the Agency.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000300070024-6