TNAG-0562-FCO40-657-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 47

CIND N

CONFIDENTIAL

هلند

HIK 1911 Do +/u

19/1

D Warren Esq

SEAD

FCO

Dear Warren,

BRITISH EMBASSY

RANGOON

Mr Gold Smith 20 October 1975

PUSA

12

сорук

CC

нитод UNO

TIMOT

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 14

·4 NOV 1975

FABI15

3115

BURMESE ATTACK ON INSURGENT OPIUM REFINERTES IN SHAN SETTES

1

150

Dr

I attach the text published in the Burmese press of the report by News Agency Burma on 14 October on the success of operations mounted in the middle of last month by the Burmese Armed Forces against insurgent opium refineries in the Shan States. We have not yet had an opportunity to discuss the report in detail with the US Embassy who have the expertise to comment on it. However, the American Ambassador has vouched for its accuracy. He qualified as significant the loss of supplies suffered by the traffickers. He remarked that the success of the operations had frozen the movement of stocks not destroyed by the Burmese Armed Forces, as holders are too frightened for the present to stir. He said that the success of the Burmese operations had already been reflected in prices.

2 Though the troop-carrying helicopters are not directly mentioned, it is confidently assumed here that without them the operations could not have achieved such success. We believe that about six helicopters have so far been delivered from the US under the agreement concluded in the summer of 1974. The Burmese have every reason to publish news of their success as a means for instance of answering the case put by Adrian Cowell in the Sunday Times of 5 October for purchasing opium from insurgents. They have also a natural interest in drawing their success to the attention of the Americans who are to supply further helicopters and other equipment. Some room remains for speculation as to why the Burmese held back the story for as long as they did. I will comment further if we learn more of interest.

3 In reading the press report you should note that the word "blawge" is used in Burma for an inferior onium residue. The Burmese viss is equivalent to 34 lbs. At first sight the stocks captured do not look large compared with the popular estimate of 300 tons of opium moved annually out of Burma.

Copy to: J F Millington Esq MVO

Washington

R Goring-Morris Esq Bangkok

J S Chick

JP Law Esq Bangkok

Research Dept

FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

Что

ени

tim Chikk