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To facilitate the interdiction of opium and its derivatives, Lao Cus- toms, with U.S. assistance and advice has established four outposts along the Mekong River from which river and frontier patrols will conduct surveillance operations along the Burmese-Lao and Thai- Lao borders.
U.S. Customs advisers are also working closely with Lao Customs at the airport in Vientiane, at river ports and at post offices in the hopes of impeding the flow of narcotics into and out of Laos.
An excellent rapport has been established between the Laos Customs service and a U.S. Customs advisory team. Weekly staff meetings with Laos Customs are held to review activities, plan future actions, and render advice on customs matters.
AIR AMERICA AND OPIUM
There have been several allegations that Air America has been in- volved in transporting opium in Laos. The charges are based partly on statements alleged to have been made by Gen. Ouan Rathikoun, Gen. Thao Ma, and a Meo village leader named Ger Su Yang. General Ma, former commander of the Lao Royal Air Force, is now in exile in Thailand. All denied to the Survey Team that they had ever made such statements. The managing director of Air America has also denied the charge. Air America regulations have always prohibited the carry- ing of contraband of any sort, and through the years Air America has inspected all cargo to insure that opium would not be carried on com- pany aircraft.
Following the promulgation of antinarcotics laws in Laos in Novem- ber 1971, Air America was authorized to conduct body searches of all passengers in Laos. This has been effected through the establishment of the Special Investigation Service (SIS), in January 1972, by Air America under a contract with USAID/LAOS. At last count the SIS comprised five Americans and 33 Laotians. Numerous seizures of insig- nificant amounts of opium, apparently intended for individual per- sonal consumption, have resulted from the program, and in each case the prospective passenger has been denied access to the aircraft and turned over to local authorities.
This analysis is supported by Mr. Nelson Gross, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Narcotics Matters who is reported to have told a correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor that-
Sure, Air America was probably used as a vehicle for some transit, just as all commercial and military aircraft probably were, until the fall of 1970 when we really became aware of the narcotics problem in the area.
Prior to the establishment of SIS it is probable that unknown quantities of opium were body carried on Air America aircraft. Ger Su Yang and Gen. Ouan Rathikoun cited instances of opium addicts carrying opium being transported on Air America aircraft. It was, and is, customary for Air America to furnish transportation to any in- dividual if there is room as a good will gesture. There is no evidence available to suggest that carrying opium was ever condoned by Air America and the present SIS program now prevents passengers from even carrying personal opium supplies and smoking cuipment on the aircraft.
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