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that narcotics suppression was of grave importance to the U.S. Gov- ernment and emphasized that continued U.S. assistance to the Govern- ment of Vietnam (GVN) could not be assured if the narcotics situation was not corrected. Their recommendations included increased policing of Vietnamese military forces, cooperation with other South- east Asian countries, controlled sale of amphetamines and barbiturates, and speedy punishment of apprehended drug pushers.
Subsequently on May 4, 1971, President Thieu called a meeting of his cabinet to set up machinery to deal with the narcotics problem and to coordinate GVN and U.S. efforts. Five intelligence and police officials were appointed to a newly formed Special Committee for Eradication of Drugs and Smuggling. The committee was empowered to investigate all facets of drug use and traffic, as well as other major smuggling in Saigon.
The following actions were then taken by the GVN during May 1971: Customs and security measures at Tan Son Nhut Airport were upgraded, replacing all police, customs, and military security personnel and by rearranging the airport customs area to facilitate better control and to deny access to unauthorized persons;
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Increased publicity was given on arrests, seizures of contra- band, and the urgency of the antinarcotics campaign;
The GVN began sealing off airports and harbors through which most narcotics seemed to be flowing at that time;
The Ministry of Health ordered pharmacies to stop selling dangerous drugs without prescription;
The GVN established a system of tax-free rewards to informers and officials for information on narcotics:
Two additional U.S. Customs advisers with narcotics experience were assigned to Vietnam, and more U.S. police advisers were assigned to assist the Vietnamese narcotics bureau.
On July 15, 1971, the U.S. Ambassador again met with President Thieu to discuss the progress of the joint antinarcotics campaign which began July 1, 1971. The Ambassador commented that Vietnamese enforcement had tightened up and that cooperation between the two governments had been excellent. President Thieu was told, however, that the campaign's results had not been sufficient to remove the issue as a threat to continued U.S. support. Arrests to date had been mostly of small peddlers and street pushers, who were not adequately punished when brought to trial. The U.S. Ambassador emphasized that it was essential that the big traffickers be investigated, prosecuted, and severely punished.
During the period July to September 1971, 2,803 narcotics arrests were made. About 73 kilograms of heroin, 397 kilograms of opium, and 717 kilograms of marijuana were seized. However, the antidrug campaign was not as successful as hoped because the Vietnamese had other priorities at the time including Lower House elections, the Presi- dential referendum, planning for the October 31 inauguration and the
war.
On October 14, 1971, U.S. Embassy officials met with GVN officials to discuss plans for a second antidrug campaign. Embassy officials
Although the GVN customs agents spent a great deal of time processing passports and visas and opening passengers' luggage, observation of the baggage inspection pro- cedures indicated that the examination process was not as thorough as it should have been.