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The Golden Triangle nations of Southeast Asia have not yet found a way to reduce opium and marijuana cultivation in the entire region. Thailand has been successful in demonstrating that its
its government will continue to eradicate opium in the Hill Tribe
areas. However, the serious insurgency problem in Burma, and the
the lack of government
government action against opium and marijuana in Laos, frustrate efforts to reduce the availability of Southeast Asian heroin. Burma and Thailand are preparing for their upcoming opium eradication campaigns.
In
Pakistan is also committed to reducing its opium crop and plans for another major eradication campaign are in place. the 1987-88 eradication season, fixed wing aerial spray capacity will be added to the rotary wing capacity used in the 1986-87 aerial eradication test program. The Pakistani courts have declared a major trafficker to be extraditable under the existing extradition treaty, but he has yet to be arrested.
India continues to produce sizeable licit crops of opium. Although the Government of India claims there is no illicit production and negligible diversion from licit production, news media and other sources indicate illicit planting and diversion from licensed fields.
There has been no measurable progress in narcotics control in the three countries which were not certified by the President as having
having cooperated on narcotics
narcotics control in March, 1987. Syria, Iran and Afghanistan continue to exert little or no control over narcotics production and trafficking. Lebanon and Laos, the two countries that were certified under the "National Interest Provision", remain serious concerns.
In May, the National Drug Policy Board issued its "Lead Agency Directive" which identifies appropriate federal agencies to take action in the narcotics control area. The Department of State was designated the lead agency in the area of international narcotics control, and the creation of the International Standing Committee is intended to coordinate and review planning for international narcotics control activities around the world. The Assistant Secretary from the Bureau of International Narcotics Matters chairs the International Standing Committee.
In sum, the narcotics situation during the past six months remains serious. The World Conference has produced a true consensus of opinion as to the importance that the international community must place on acting to solve the narcotics issue.
and individual eradication campaigns, enforcement actions and increases in international public awareness provide the best hope
best hope for narcotics control during the next decade.
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