INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS STAFF NOTES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 18, 2009
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 7, 1977
• Content Type: NOTES

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
Secret
DOJ, DOS Reviews
Completed.
International Narcotics
VOTES
Secret
PS SNIN 77-001
January 7, 1977
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP79T00912AO01800010002-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
This publication is prepared by analysts in the Directorate of Intelligence for
specialists in the Washington community who are interested in international
narcotics matters. It will be published on an ad hoc basis, but not more
frequently than once each week. Comments and queries are welcome and
should be directed to the author of the individual article.
January 7, 1977
25X6
GOLDEN TRIANGLE: No. 4 Heroin Traffic
Expands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
INTERESTING READING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 25X6 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP79T00912AO01800010002-8
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
S1 URk 'r
Golden Triangle: No. 4 Heroin Traffic Expands
Reported shipments of pure white No. 4 heroin
from refineries located along the Burma-Thailand
border totaled 1,700 kilograms during the first nine
months of 1976. This compares with a total of only
700 kilograms during the same period in 1975 and
a total of 1,500 kilograms for the entire year.
The increased supply of No. 4 heroin during
1976 has also been reflected in price trends. Whole-
sale prices in the tri-border area--Laos-Burma-
Thailand--during September 1976 were more than 30
percent below the level of September 1975. In con-
sumer markets of Burma, September prices were down
about 15 percent from a year ago, while in Bangkok,
the major Thai market, the price remained at about
the same level.
Thirty-six percent of the No. 4 heroin report-
edly shipped from the border area during the first
three quarters of 1976 was destined for consumer
markets in Burma. Bangkok was the major market for
at least 20 percent of No. 4 heroin shipments.
It now appears that the bulk of the No. 4
heroin produced in the Golden Triangle is actually
being consumed within Southeast Asia. For example,
a recent report indicated the No. 4 heroin require-
ment for addicts in Bangkok totaled about 4,600
kilograms annually. Although the total requirement
for No. 4 heroin in Southeast Asia is not known,
reported export totals thus far in 1976 appear to
understate significantly the actual quantities in-
volved.
January 7, 1977
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
SECRET
NORWAY: Sixteen kilos of heroin were seized at the
Oslo Airport on December 4, and 17 grams of
pure heroin plus some hashish were seized near
Bergen on December 17. These seizures of heroin
have significantly raised the Norwegians' aware-
ness of their increasing drug problem and have
resulted in both popular and official demands
for stronger anti-narcotics measures by the
government. The major concern heretofore has
been that Norway had become a transit point
on the Far East to Western Europe trafficking
route; it is now apparent that hard drugs from
this trafficking are finding their way into
the increasingly affluent Norwegian society.
WEST GERMANY: There has been a 500-percent increase
in the amount of heroin--primarily Asian--
seized in the Federal Republic of Germany dur-
ing the past year, according to a recent report
from the embassy in Bonn. German authorities
also report a significant increase in the num-
ber of deaths from drug overdose during the
past year--from a total of 188 in 1975 to 300
during the first eleven months of 1976. Heroin
seizures in other. West European countries are
also up. About 100 kilograms of Asian heroin
were seized in Copenhagen during 1976, and,
during the first eleven months of 1976, 160
kilograms of heroin were seized in the Nether-
lands. Recent seizures appear to be having
a significant impact
on the local drug market
in the Netherlands.
A Dutch official noted
recently that there
had been a 400-percent in-
crease in the price
of gram lots of heroin.
He cautioned, however, that the price increase
may be only temporary.
January 7, 1977
SFCR FT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
Jr.Il1(r41
FINLAND: Finnish Customs officials seized 11 kilo-
grams of "almost pure" heroin at Helsinki Seutula
Airport on December 14. A man and woman travel-
ing on Singapore passports were apprehended in
the case. The Number Three heroin was dis-
covered in 28 cans which bore labels in various
languages identifying the contents as fruit,
clams, and beans. The investigation was
prompted when Customs officials became suspi-
cious of the unusual itinerary and the strange
behavior of the pair. This is the largest
single seizure of illicit drugs ever made in
Finland; previous seizures of heroin have been
measured in tens of grams. Finnish drug con-
trol authorities estimate that the street
value of the 11 kilograms would be about
$8,000,000, and the wholesale value would be
slightly less than $1,000,000. The Finns
speculate that the heroin was in transit to
distribution points in Central Europe and
that recent tightening of drug controls in
Stockholm and Oslo may have diverted the heroin
to Helsinki.
BURMA: An opium caravan that could be carrying up
to 6.5 metric tons of raw opium may already
have left the northern Shan State of Burma
destined for a location near the Burma-Thailand
border where it will be processed by a clandes-
tine "laboratory."/
If it left at the ap-
pointed time and is unimpeded by the Burmese
Army, it should arrive at the proposed destin-
ation within the next few days.
January 7, 1977
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
SECRET
COLOMBIA: Some major Colombian drug trafficking
groups are moving their operations away from
major urban areas, according to recent Drug
Enforcement Agency intelligence information.
They apparently are dispersing their clandes-
tine cocaine laboratories because of the in-
creased law enforcement activity in and around
some of the major urban centers.
LAOS: The Lao government recently offered to sell
100 metric tons of opium to Japan and indicated
an interest in making additional sales in sub-
sequent years, although not necessarily in the
quantity of 100 tons. The Japanese estimate
that the proposed sale represents about two
years' production and speculated that the Lao-
tian government may have had a considerable
stockpile at the time the proposal was made.
A sale of this magnitude would constitute a
gross violation of the 1961 Single Convention
on Narcotic Drugs by the Laotian government.
IRAN: The Iranian government is considering the
establishment of a new narcotics control or-
ganization which would encompass treatment and
rehabilitation, international liaison, and
eventually--although not immediately--law en-
forcement. The creation of the suggested or-
ganization apparently is still some months
away; even the initial planning indicates that
the Iranian government is beginning to realize
the scope of the Iranian addiction problem and
the necessity of tightening international con-
trols. Meanwhile, Tehran has indicated a
greater willingness to contribute to the sup-
port of UN-sponsored projects related to the
narcotics control effort and is expected to
offer $4-5,000,000 to help finance projects
currently being considered or actually under
way by the UN.
January 7, 1977
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79T00912A001800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
O.CVICE1
BRAZIL: The President of Brazil has signed into
law new legislation designed to better control
drug abuse in Brazil. The new anti-drug law,
among other things, stiffens penalties for
traffickers; lowers penalties for simple pos-
session; introduces a new philosophy in the
treatment and rehabilitation of addicts; pro-
vides for expulsion of foreigners who commit
drug offenses; and takes an initial step to-
ward the creation of a professional class in
the narcotics enforcement sector of the Federal
Police.
January 7, 1977
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
INTERESTING READING
Drug Trafficking Reaches Unprecedented Proportions
(AUSTRALIA)--TNDD, No. 278, December 30, 1976,
p. 8.
Narcotics Dealers "Mushrooming" (BURMA)--TNDD, No.
278, p. 15.
Strong Measures Recommended for Drug Addicts (MALAY-
SIA--TNDD, No. 278, pp. 18-20.
Addiction Among Mexican Youths (MEXICO)--TNDD, No.
278, pp. 46-52.
Reports on Narcotics Activities (HONG KONG)--TNDD,
GUO 12/76, December 23, 1976, pp. 1-5.
Drugs, Weapons Uncovered in Police Raid (JAPAN)--
TNDD, GUO 12/76, pp. 18-22.
Belgian Police Make Large Drug Haul (BELGIUM)--TNDD,
No. 277, December 23, 1976, pp. 35-36.
Four Jailed for Running Drug Factory (UNITED KING-
DOM)--TNDD, No. 277, pp. 40--42..
Heroin Addiction Reaches Epidemic Proportions (UNITED
KINGDOM) --TNDD, No.. 277, p. 43.
Plans For Increasing Opium Production, Exports Out-
lined (INDIA)--TNDD, No. 276, December 16, 1976,
pp. 1-2.
Record Hashish Crop in Lebanon (LEBANON)--TNDD, No.
276, pp. 27-28.
Florence Becoming Another Drug Center (ITALY)--TNDD,
No. 276, pp. 34-35.
Brisk Drug Business Yields 200 Million Kroner (SWEDEN)
--TNDD, No. 276, pp. 39-43.
January 7, 1977
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8
Secret
Secret
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01: CIA-RDP79TOO912AO01800010002-8