TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 151

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It is deplorable that this situation exists. The ultimate objective is to stop heroin from reaching the addicts and it will require the whole- hearted participation and cooperation of all parties and agencies in- volved. The dimensions of the problem are such that the United States cannot afford the luxury of interagency friction.

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

In war, intelligence on the activities of the enemy is vital. This is especially true of the war on narcotics where the entire process is clandestine. Poppies are grown illegally. Opium is purchased from the grower covertly, processed in illicit laboratories and smuggled across national borders in violation of international and national laws. Prior to the establishment of the Cabinet Committee, narcotics in- telligence was the responsibility of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dan- gerous Drugs. This was an unsatisfactory arrangement. The view of several U.S. officials was that BNDD agents were not trained to handle the collection, collation, analysis, and dissemination of foreign intel- ligence. As a result, a lot of good intelligence went largely unused.

To remedy this situation and to improve the quality of intelligence, the President directed the Central Intelligence Agency to give nar- cotics intelligence collection a major priority. The Agency has done

this.

It is the consensus among most officials with whom the Survey Team met, in and out of the intelligence community, that the inclusion of CIA in the narcotics intelligence collection effort was necessary. The Agency has the expertise, the resources, and the contacts that BNDD and Customs do not have. These same officials are concerned, however, that the requirement to participate in the narcotics intelligence effort will interfere with the Agency's capability in other areas. This con- cern is valid. While CIA was given the responsibility, the Agency was not authorized additional personnel, and overall funding was reduced. In Southeast Asia, the CIA has been given the responsibility for coordinating the narcotics intelligence collection activities of the vari- ous U.S. Missions.

To prevent any of the agencies engaged in collecting intelligence on narcotics from using the same informers, the CIA provides coordi- nated intelligence support. This enables them to monitor the program and insure maximum effectiveness with a minimum amount of con- fusion and duplication.

Domestically, a Central Intelligence Agency official serves as Chair- man of the Cabinet Committee's Working Group Subcommittee on Foreign Intelligence. The purpose of this subcommittee is to coordi- nate the foreign intelligence collection effort at the Washington level and to develop collection guidelines for the field. The subcommittee conducts its activities on an informal rather than organizational basis. As a result, a working relationship has developed among the individ- ual representatives of its more important components; i.e., CIA, BNDD, and Customs.

In the past, the Agency has produced a number of Intelligence Memoranda on various aspects of the international narcotics problems, for the use of the Department of State, BNDD, Customs, and other agencies. While there are no such documents being produced at the

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