CYPHER/CAT A GPS 350
FM SAIGON
CONFIDENTIAL
2508402
CONFIDENTIAL
TOO
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TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 14 OF 25 APRIL 1973.
INFO TO FCO AND BANGKOK,
MY TELEGRAM NO. 12 : NARCOTICS SEIZURE.
1. AT A BRIEFING ON 24 APRIL MY DEFENCE ATTACHE
WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CAPTURE OF THE THAI FISHING BOAT CARRYING
NARCOTICS TO HONG KONG.
2,
VESSEL DETAILS: LENGTH 19 METRES, BEAM
4 METRES, SPEED APPROXIMATELY 12 KNOTS, DISPLACEMENT 27 TONS, CREW OF 9 THAIS ONE OF WHOM SPOKE CHINESE.
3.
WHEN THE VESSEL WAS CAPTURED 30 NAUTICAL
MILES NORTH EAST OF NHA TRANG AT 1643 HOURS ON
19 APRIL IT WAS CARRYING 12,200 POUNDS OF OPIUM AND 281 POUNDS OF MORPHINE CONCEALED IN THE FISH
HOLD UNDER ICE AND METS,
4. THE US EMBASSY AND THE GVN HAVE DENIED THAT
THERE WAS ANY TIP-OFF'', AND HAVE GIVEN THE PRESS A STORY TO THE EFFECT THAT THE VESSEL WAS STOPPED, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND UNTIL IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO NHA TRANG ON SUSPICION WHEN A MORE
THOROUGH EXAMINATION REVEALED THE CONTRABAND.
ACCORDING TO VIETNAMESE NAVAL ITELLIGENCE
HOWEVER THEY HAD RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM THE
US EMBASSY ON 11 APRIL THAT THE VESSEL HAD
LEFT THAILAND. ON 14 APRIL THE US EMBASSY
STATED THAT THE VESSEL HAD RETURNED TO AN ISLAND
OFF THE THAI/CAMBODIAN BORDER PROBABLY FOR REPAIRS AND/OR REPAINTING. ON 18 APRIL IT
IT.
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/WAS SIGHTED
CONFIDENTIAL
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