U.S. NARCOTICS CONTROL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Prior to fiscal year 1972 the United States did not provide assist- ance specifically for international narcotics control activities in Burmia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and South Vietnam. In some instances prior to fiscal year 1972, AID Public Safety Advisers with narcotics control experience did assist the local governments as a part of the overall Public Safety Program. On June 17, 1971, in a special message to Congress, the President announced a major worldwide expansion in existing programs to control the illicit international traflie of narcotics and dangerous drugs. In that message, the President requested an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act which would perinit assist- ance to any country willing to cooperate in antidrug efforts. The Con- gress incorporated the President's request in section 151 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1971. Section 431 also included a provision which re- quires the President to cut off economic and military aid to any coun- try which he determines to be uncooperative in the narcotics control effort. This latter provision has never been invoked.
Since the beginning of fiscal year 1972, the United States has pro- vided a total of $2.627.000 in narcotics control assistance to Laos, Thai- land, and South Vietnam. For fiscal year 1978, the excentive branch has programed $2,193,000 for narcoties control assistance in Southeast
Asia.
In Laos, a total of $1,100,000 was obligated for narvoties control activities in fiscal year 1972. This amount includes equipment and training for Lao narcotics control personnel and support for a pilot methadone maintenance program which was initiated after Laos out- lawed the use of opium in November 1971. In addition to direct assist- anec to the Lao Government, the United States funds staff support in Laos provided by BNDD and Customs personnel and a program of reward payments to informants. The fiscal year 1973 própo-ed pro- gram for Laos is $1,532,000.
In Thailand, a total of $1,028,000 has been obligated for fiscal year 1972. Of that sum, $28,000 was allocated for research on drug addic- tion and training. The larger portion, $1 million, has gone to support the purchase of 26 tons of illicit opium. The details of the transaction are discussed elsewhere in this report. The United States intends to furnish $1,151,000 in fiscal year 1979.
Narcoties control programs in South Vietnam in fiscal year 1972 totaled approximately $500,000, principally for advisory salaries and the cost of training programs administered by Customs, Public Safety, and BNDD personnel. The fiscal year 1973 program in South Vietnam is expected to remain at about $706,000,
In the case of Burma, no funds have been expended nor are any pro- grams planned in the immediate future. While there is a strong desire on the part of the United States to assist Burma in its antinarcotics activities, Burma is not willing to accept external aid. A detailed
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