(the largest single producer of opium) the position remained almost static. Burmese/Thai relations were poor and there was no co-operation between them over the traffic in illicit opium. There was, however, some slight cause for optimism as the Government appeared to have recognised that it had a problem within its borders and had accepted US offers of 3 helicopters for aerial surveying and assistance with a crop substitution programme. Also the help of the DEA had been accepted and eight illicit laboratories preparing morphine base had been located. DEA were hopeful of a favourable outcome of negotiations to station an agent in the country. The Government had not taken fur- ther steps to implement the proposed UN programme and it was unlikely that its basic attitude would change radically. It had no control over the Shan States where this year's bumper harvest had been stock- piled for export.
In Thailand the present coalition government was ineffective and the political situation was extremely fluid. Corruption was rife, there was labour unrest and student agitation. The vacuum created by the withdrawal of the US forces from neighbouring countries had to be filled and the Thais seemed likely to look more favourably towards China. Despite all this the authorities were enthusiastically pur- suing their anti-narcotics programme and were looking for help. The UN sponsored crop substitution programme, although still in the experimental stage, had made some progress and co-operation was being solicited from the Germans, Dutch and French. It had been estimated that 650 tons of opium were being illicitly exported from Thailand and there was evidence that trawlers were again being increasingly used for this trade but it was not clear what their main destination was. A good intelligence network was being maintained, however, and pressure on the trawler traffic was being stepped up.
The political situation in Laos was very unsettled and it was impossible to predict the future. It seemed, however, that the government was looking for the continuance of UN aid in the narcotics field. There had been a move to repeal the law which prohibited the growing of opium and to release all prisoners held under it.
Malaysia was becoming increasingly involved in the world wide flow of Asian heroin and was thought to have become a major area of illicit manufacture. At present Hong Kong no longer appeared to provide the centre of gravity for the export trade. The trafficking to Europe, in particular to Amsterdam, was well organised and con- trolled almost entirely by Malaysian ethnic Chinese. It appeared, however, that recent law enforcement efforts had had some success in reducing this trade.
2. Hong Kong
The two major developments in the Hong Kong narcotic situation during the past year had been the breaking of the opium syndicates by the police and the passing of an ordinance prohibiting the possession of and trafficking in acetic anhydride. The first had been achieved because of the pressure applied to the traffickers in Thailand. Prior to this about 50 tons of opium a year had been imported into the colony from Thailand and this had been mainly for internal consumption, but the situation in Thailand had led to a reduction in the traffic and consequently to shortages in Hong Kong. Inter-syndicate rivalry had developed and arrests had been made on the information given by members of the syndicates. As the syndicates had been the only organisa- tions with the finance necessary to arrange for the transport of opium
2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.