TESTIMONY BEFORE REPRESENTATIVE WOLFF'S SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE -- INTELLIGENCE FAILURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A000400040009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 1, 1976
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M07A00040004
1 October 1976
NOTE FOR: The Director
SUBJECT: Testimony before Representative Wolff Is Select
Committee on Narcotics Abuse -- Intelligence Failure
TINTL
TINTL 1. as just called in the results of his review
at the Committee of the testimony of Bensinger (DEA), Acree,
(Customs) and has interrogated the Committee staff on the testimony
of previous Executive Branch witnesses (Justice, State, Domestic
Counsel, IRS, National Institute for Drug Abuse).
2. The general impression of the testimony is that there
is room for major improvement in the Government's efforts.
3. Bensinger made no reference to any CIA failure.
INTL
4. Wolff Is statement that, "somehow the information pipeline
connecting the CIA with the rest of the 'enforcement community'
has been clogged, " apparently is not supported in the hearing record,
even though he attributes this conclusion to Acree, Bensinger and
"other witnesses, Cabinet officers and agency heads. "
5. Acree did say that "... we simply do not know how heroin in
quantity arrives in the United States. The origin we generally know...
but we don't know by what mode, method or manner. ' Further, that
Immigration
this was not due to any lack of cooperation between Customs,
and DEA but because, "the enforcement community simply doesn't have
that information to exchange. " However, later on in his testimony
(attached) he clarified that insofar as CIA is concerned, it is not the
lack of cooperation but the fact that the type of interdiction information
needed may be precluded by the new guidelines under which the Agency
is operating.
6. It is I Ifeeling that there also is in the background of this
issue the fact that DEA has not been effective in picking up from Customs
the responsibility for acquiring the type of interdiction information which
is lacking. STATINTL
Deputy Legislative Uotuisei
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In response to a query from Congressman English, as to
whether the Agency could be of assistance in providing information
with regard to arrests, Acree said, "I would think the CIA could
be valuable to us in providing us with a kind of information that we
could use in interdiction. Let me make a point in that regard,
we don't always need to know who is bringing a narcotic into the
country. If we.know*how it is coming into the country, where it
is coming into the country, the method by which it is being brought
into the country, then we can gear our reaction effort then in that
direction... As I mentioned earlier to you sir, if we know how it is
coming in or what particular port it may be coming in or how it is
concealed and the like then we can as I said react in a very positive
way to that kind of information and I would suggest that the possibility
of that being produced by CIA if it was within their capability to
produce it, could be useful to us, yes.
In response to a question from Congressman English as to
whether Acree had made such a request of the Agency, Acree said,
"Yes, " and went on, "Well the CIA, as I am sure the Gentleman
knows, has been under rather severe review and any operational
arrangement at this point has to be spelled out in specific guidelines
and writing and so forth. My staff informs me that we are attempting
to do that at this point. "
Mr. English: "They have indicated a willingness to provide
that kind of information, is that correct?
Acree: Yes.
D'Angelus (Acree's counsel): Yes sir. Those within existing
guidelines; those are under review.
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Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000400040009-5