TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 103

CYPHER/CAT A GPS 350

FM SAIGON

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2508402

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TOO

XXX19/3

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

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