INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS STAFF NOTES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 18, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: March 30, 1977
• Content Type: NOTES

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Secret
International Narcotics
OTES
Secret
1'a1s
DOJ, DOS Reviews
Completed.
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INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
30 March 1977
Burma: Reduction in Raw Opium Traffic. . . . . . . . 1
25X6
Netherlands: Growing Concern Over
Narcotics Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
National Assessments:
Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 9
Iran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Interesting Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Correct ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
This publication is prepared by analysts in the Directorate of Intelligence for
specialists in the Washington community who are interested in international nar-
cotics matters. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to the
authors of the individual articles.
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Golden Triangle
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BURMA: Reduction in Raw Opium Traffic
Raw opium shipments from Burma during 1976 totaled
158 tons compared to 256 tons in 1975. Of this total
48 percent originated in the northern Shan State, 35 per-
cent from Burmese Communist Party (BCP) controlled areas,
and 17 percent from other areas of Burma. About 150 tons
of these exports terminated at various points along the
Burma-Thailand border. This included 67 percent at col-
lection points and/or refineries on the Burmese side
and 33 percent on the Thai side of the border. Receiv-
ing points for this opium remained concentrated in two
major border regions: The Tachilek - Mae Sai - Lao Lo
Chai area; and the area adjacent to Mae Hong Son Prov-
ince, Thailand. The former area still receives the
largest share of raw opium shipments, which in 1976
totaled 106 tons or 71 percent of the total.
The Kengtung area, which is a major transshipment
point and marketing center for opium produced in BCP-
controlled areas, accounted for about 35 percent of the
raw opium shipped to the border. Most of this opium was
delivered to the Tachilek area, generally by elements
of the Fifth CIF organization.
Raw opium shipments from Burma took a significant
downturn at the beginning of 1977. During January, raw
opium shipments into the Burma-Thailand border area to-
taled a little over one ton. This compares with 11 tons
shipped during January 1976. The downturn in the market
was a reflection of the depressed market that has been
in evidence throughout the Golden Triangle during the
latter part of 1976 and early 1977.
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Burma: Raw Opium Exports by Area of origin in 1975 and
1976
1975 1976
Tons Percent Tons Percent
N. Shan St. 134 53 75 48
B.C.P. Area 60 23 57 35
C. Shan St. 31 12 19 12
S. Shan St. 31 12 7 5
Total 256 100 158 100
Burma-Thailand: Raw Opium Imports into Border Area by
Destination in 1975 and 1976
1975 1976
Tons Percent Tons Percent
S. E. Burma-Thailand Border 172 82 106 71
S. W. Burma-Thailand Border 37 18 44 29
Total 209 100 150 100
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NETHERLANDS: Growing Concern Over Narcotics Traffic
In early March, Dutch police and customs authorities
called a meeting of their counterparts from seven other
European countries and the US to share narcotics intel-
ligence in the hope of intercepting heroin shipments
they suspected were en route to Rotterdam. The meeting,
called on short notice, was a first for the Netherlands--
and possibly for Europe. It represents a big step to-
ward regional cooperation in the fight against the nar-
cotics traffic.
Documents discovered in Rotterdam, following the
seizure of 126 kilograms of heroin and the arrest of
three Chinese suspected traffickers, led Dutch authori-
ties to suspect more heroin was en route from the Far
East. On March 13 they met with officials from Germany,
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, the UK, and
the US, as well as from Interpol, to share their infor-
mation. In addition, they sent the same data to anti-
narcotics agencies in Bangkok and Hong Kong.
The Dutch are becoming increasingly concerned about
the Netherlands' central role in the drug trade. There
is a growing realization in The Hague that the type of
cooperation and coordination this conference represents
is essential in order to stop the use of their country
as the main transshipment point for narcotics in Europe.
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NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS 25X1
THAILAND
Significance: Thailand is a major processing center and
transshipment point for illicit opium and its by-products
produced in the Golden Triangle, the traditional opium
growing area straddling the Thai, Burmese, and Lao bor-
ders. Although a large portion of the narcotics tran-
siting Thailand is destined for consumer markets within
Asia, increasing supplies are finding their way into
Europe where Chinese trafficking organizations have es-
tablished new markets. At least 10 percent of the No.
4 heroin entering the US market is believed to be of
Golden Triangle origin.
The upland areas of northwest Thailand produce
about 50 tons of opium per year, nearly all of which
is consumed by Thailand's large addict population. Al-
though a 1959 law banned the growing of opium poppies
in Thailand, political sensitivities toward the tribal
cultivators and lack of government control in some
growing areas have prevented the enforcement of the ban.
Tribal groups in the upland areas are still dependent
upon the opium poppy as their major cash crop. Crop
substitution programs sponsored by the US and the UN have
been instituted in several key villages but no signif-
icant decrease in poppy area has as yet been accomplished.
The raw opium produced in Burma is usually trans-
ported southward by caravan to the remote and generally
under-policed areas on the Thai border. Most is pro-
cessed at the numerous refineries straddling the Thai-
Burma border, that are owned or managed by the major
trafficking organizations operating between Burma and
Thailand, such as the Shan United Army (SUA) and the
3rd and 5th Chinese Irregular Forces (CIF). In addition
there are smaller paramilitary and tribal groups en-
gaged in the traffic which also use Thailand as their
base of operations.
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Thailand has historically been the corridor through
which the bulk of opium and finished narcotics from the
Golden Triangle has made its way into international
markets. Powerful and far-flung smuggling organizations
have operated for years throughout Thailand moving nar-
cotics from the Thailand--Burma border area through Bang-
kok, by both air and sea, or overland into Malaysia whence
they are transshipped elsewhere. The narcotics are
smuggled through Thailand by foot, private automobile,
taxi, bus, trucks, trains, and aircraft. Bangkok is a
major marketing center for narcotics which are often
transshipped south through Hatyai to Malaysia and Sin-
gapore. Alternate routings include the use of points
along the Gulf of Thailand for movement by trawler or
freighter to Hong Kong and other destinations. Narcotics
destined for international markets outside of Asia are
often smuggled aboard commercial aircraft in Bangkok for
Hong Kong, Europe, and North Americas
A large portion of the heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle is consumed within Southeast Asia. The addict
population in Thailand has been estimated at between
175,000-300,000 with Bangkok a major consumer market for
No. 3 and No. 4 heroin. Estimated requirements for No.
4 heroin there are said to total 4,600 kilograms annually.
Problem:
e
new Thai government appears to be much more aware of the
situation and is making a serious effort to correct
deficiencies. The large volume of narcotics traffic
through Thailand makes any control effort difficult,
especially after' the narcotics have left the Burmese-
Thai border area. Because of the heavy freight and
passenger traffic moving daily along the major north-
south routes in Thailand, interdiction of illicit opiates
is particularly difficult unless the police are informed
in advance about specific shipments.
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Prospects: There have been noticeable, if perhaps tem-
porary, improvements in the narcotics situation during
the period since the new Thai government assumed power.
Most traffickers still appear to be assessing the new
government's anti-narcotics policies and have reduced
their operations. However, the success of Thai anti-
narcotics efforts will depend upon the determination of
that government to eliminate the bases used by the major
trafficking organizations within Thailand. Efforts are
reportedly being made to force the SUA from Thai soil.
Unless the Thai government also moves against the CIF
and the other trafficking organizations based in Thai-
land and coordinates its anti-narcotics efforts with
those of the Burmese government, only a temporary re- 25X1
spite can be expected.
Significance: The role of Iran in the field of inter-
national narcotics control has increased appreciably in
the past several years. Iran is basically a victim and
a transit country. It has limited processing facilities
to fulfill the needs of its 160,000 registered addicts.
Opium cultivation in Iran is aggressively controlled
and no significant amount of Iranian-produced opium is
known to have been diverted to illicit international traf-
fic. In the past year, however, 20-30 percent of legal
opium--over 240 tons a year--may have been diverted to
illicit domestic markets.
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Nearly all of the illicit opium from neighboring
Pakistan and Afghanistan is smuggled into Iran. Much
remains in Iran where it is consumed by addicts who
are not registered and serviced by the government.
No significant amounts of opium smuggled into Iran are
known to have reached US and European markets. Traf-
ficking routes have been established, however, and sub-
stantial seizures have been made by Iranian authorities
suggesting that Iranian traffickers may be organizing
an Iranian connection for narcotics produced in Afghan-
istan and Pakistan destined for Western markets.
Most of the hashish smuggled into Iran from Afghan-
istan and Pakistan is transshipped to Western Europe
by Iranian traffickers utilizing legitimate international
truck shipments.
Problem: Iran does not currently constitute a problem
in international trafficking of narcotics, but because
of the location of the country and the long-established
smuggling routes and networks, it does represent a per-
sistent potential threat.
The Iranian government is stable and is committed
o a policy of rigid control and enforcement.
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r There are
an estimated 500,000-600,000 opium, and 20,000-40,000
heroin users in Iran.
Prospects: As long as the Shah remains in firm control
of the government, and there are no current identifiable
threats to government stability, Iran can be expected
to maintain its firm commitment to control both production
and trafficking.
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TURKEY: Bulgarian border authorities have arrested two
Turks who were trying to smuggle a total of 950
kilograms of a drug, probably hashish, into Bul-
garia. The Turks undoubtedly intended to transport
the contraband across Bulgaria and into Europe.
One of the Turks, a Laborer from Istanbul was ap-
prehended with about 500 kilograms of the drug
hidden in the gasoline tank of a truck. Bulgarian
authorities are stepping up their narcotics control
program, and these arrests, made on March 10 and 12,
are the latest in a series. The amounts involved
in the latest arrests are much larger than the usual
seizures in this area.
NORWAY: The five-nation Nordic Council at its recent
meeting reportedly discussed at length the inter-
national narcotics situation and, in particular, a
Norwegian proposal to use development funds ear-
marked for less developed countries to combat il-
legal narcotics cultivation. According to an offi-
cial who attended the council meeting, Norway an-
nounced that it intended to funnel about $10 million
through the UNFAO to be used for specific projects
in the drug control program. Other council members
indicated they would study the Norwegian proposal
and the suggestion that they might wish to take
similar action or join together in some joint pro-
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SPAIN: According to information from the UN, Spain has
now ratified the Protocol Amending the 1961 Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
BANGKOK: According to a Bangkok press report, a Japa-
nese narcotics courier recently died after swallow-
ing several containers of heroin which he intended
'to smuggle into Japan. The Japanese trafficker
was found dead in his hotel room on March 23, the
day he was due to check out, and a post-mortem dis-
closed 12 small rubber bags of No. 4 heroin in his
stomach.
THAILAND: The secretary general of the Thai Narcotics
Control Board (NCB) on March 22 outlined the board's
plan of action. He said it would consist of four
basic elements: 1) suppression; 2) treatment; 3)
crop substitution; and 4) prevention. As described,
it would pull together the responsibilities which
until now have been divided among several depart-
ments and offices in the Thai government. The em-
bassy notes that, on paper, this new effort offers
impressive additional evidence of the Prime Min-
ister's firm commitment to an effective anti-nar-
cotics program for Tha
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INTERESTING READING
UN Drug Official Reports Progress in Asian Countries
(INDONESIA)--TNDD, No. 289, March 16, 1977, pp. 4-6.
BTA Reports Bulgarian Narcotics Effort (BULGARIA)--TNDD,
No. 289, pp. 8-9.
Increasing Drug Consumption Worries Authorities (BOLIVIA)
--TNDD, No. 289, pp. 10-11.
Durazo 'Reorganizes' More Police Units (MEXICO)--TNDD,
No. 289, pp. 24-25.
International Train Presents Drug Control Problems
(FRANCE)--TNDD, No. 289, pp. 53-57.
Rome Heroin Shortage Causes Panic (ITALY)--TNDD, No. 289,
pp. 61-63.
Australian Tried in Bergen for Smuggling Narcotics (NOR-
WAY)--TNDD, No. 289, pp. 69-70.
Additional Details on Arrest of Two Chinese (NORWAY)--
TNDD, No. 289, pp. 72-75.
Heroin Seizure in Istanbul (TURKEY)--TNDD, No. 289, p. 77.
Seventeen Drug Deaths Registered in Munich for 1976 (WEST
GERMANY)--TNDD, No. 289, pp. 79-80.
West Berlin Drug Deaths, FRG Narcotics Problems Reviewed
(WEST GERMANY)--TNDD, No. 289, pp. 83-87.
Bulgarian Efforts to Stop Drug Traffic (BULGARIA)--TNDD,
No. 290, March 21, 1977, pp. 28-29.
National Research Institute Reports Facts on Drug Ad-
diction (BOLIVIA)--TNDD, No. 291, March 23, 1977,
pp. 40-41.
Hong Kong Traffickers Tell of Conspiracy (HONG KONG)--
TNDD, No. '3/77, March 25, 1977,
, pp. 1-3.
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Drugs B Mail Under Investigation (HONG KONG)--TNDD, No.
3/77, pp. 22-23.
Major Drug Ring Smashed in Canton (PRCHINA)--TNDD, No.
F__'3/77, pp. 34-36.
Hill Tribes Find Opium Cultivation More Profitable Than
Other Crops (THAILAND)--TNDD, No. 3/77, pp. 37-
39.
Police Drug-Squad Office erviewed on Heroin Wave
(FRANCE)--TNDD, No. 3/77, pp. 48-52.
Large Heroin Shipment Seized (UNITED KINGDOM)--TNDD, No.
X3/77, p. 55.
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Secret
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