LETTER TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM E. COLBY FROM VERNON W. [ ]

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01082A000700180009-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 27, 1974
• Content Type: LETTER

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ; Exec"" A7!!M
EP271974
REFER TO
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Dear Mr. Colby:
The U.S. Customs Service is charged with responsibility for the
enforcement of many United States statutes that control the
introduction of goods into this country and with the regulation
of foreign commerce. Among the most important responsibilities
are the prevention of the smuggling of prohibited goods, the
detection of those seeking to evade the payment of duty, and
the enforcement of certain United States statutes relating to
entrance and clearance of vessels and aircraft arriving in the
United States from foreign countries.
Based on information that there is extensive violation of these
smuggling and navigation statutes in United States Gulf Coast
area, this Service will initiate an intensive enforcement effort
during the months of November and December. This effort is
designed to identify all marine and air traffic into the southeast
part of the United States from foreign countries and to determine
the extent to which violations are occurring. Geographically,
the effort will extend from Mobile, Alabama, to Miami, Florida.
The detection and inspection of aircraft and vessels will be
accomplished by:U.S. Customs Service personnel.
Since the violations of interest concern the entry of an aircraft
or vessel from a foreign country, the identification of such
aircraft or boats in a foreign port during the time of the effort
would greatly facilitate this effort. The collection of this
information cannot be accomplished by this Service, so assistance
from United States agencies with foreign collection capabilities
is being requested to identify aircraft and vessels calling at
foreign ports during the period of this effort.
The assistance of your agency is requested in identifying all
aircraft and small vessels, foreign to the port of call, in the
Caribbean Islands, Central America and the northern portion of
South America. More specifically, this Service needs information
on the identification of the vessel or aircraft, to include
description, if possible, its date of entry into the port or
airport and, in the case of vessels, the date of departure and
declared destination.
Approved For Release 2004/04/01 : CIA-RDP80MO1082A000700180009-1
REPLY TO: COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20229
 .Approved For Release 2004/04/01 : CIA-RDP80MO1082A000700180009-1
Sincerely you rs,
Commissioner of Customs
There is no security classification assigned this effort and
there is no objection to the utilization of foreign law
enforcement or regulatory agencies to gather the data. However,
we would not want to disclose the nature of our operation to
those sources.
Your assistance is vital to the full success of this effort
and will be very much appreciated.
The Honorable
William E. Colby
Director, Central
Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Approved For Release 2004/04/01 : CIA-RDP80MO1082A000700180009-1
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