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product's origin or its originator. Often, many of these expendables perform their duties in a very compartmentalized fashion, perhaps knowning only one or two contacts, and then usually only by a . pseudonym. In many instances these individuals are not Chinese but indigenous locals.
Some of these activities have been carried out by quite respectable people. Diplomats, merchant ship officers and tourists, for example, have been recruited to serve as couriers, while the prospect of considerable financial reward has tempted a number of gullable, middle-class Americans to . receive or attempt to sell Asian-produced narcotics in the United States.
Generally,
Outside of, but essential to the success of the networks, are the cooperating, indigenous local police and military officials who--for a price-- provide information, protection, authorization, means of transportation, and other forms of assistance to the Chinese traffickers. the officials are not part of the networks themselves, but do receive payment--either regularly or on an ad hoc basis--for their services. Occasionally, a local official will not actively assist in drug trafficking, but will receive payment for closing his eyes to such activity.
Perhaps the most famous example of official
In
collusion involved General Ouan Rathikoun, the Lao Chief of Staff who assisted Hu Tien-hsing. return for a share of the profits, General Rathikoun provided regular Lao troops as protection for Hu's refinery operation at Ban Houei Tap. He also made military vehicles avail- able for transporting opium and narcotics to and from the refinery site, as well as arranging clearance for passage through government check- points. Other Lao military elements provide air transportation for Hu. Similar instances of collusion between the trafficking networks and local officials have been reported elsewhere in Southeast Asia, principally in Thailand and Burma.
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