TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 63

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case himself,

to cooperate

that Attorney General Michael Thomas argued the demonstrated strongly the HKG's willingness internationally Also, the HKG continues to study possible means of curtailing narcotics money-laundering activities which take place in the territory.

Summary.

INDONESIA

There have been no major changes in the narcotics enforcement, production or trafficking in Indonesia since submission of the March 1987 INCSR. End Summary.

Two developments in international cooperation should be noted. The Australian Federal Police Liaison Office closed. Reasons cited for the closure were lack of extensive enforcement activity in Indonesia, coupled with budget Australians felt they would have better use

constraints.

of limited resources in more strategic narcotics

narcotics trafficking locations. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration closed its Jakarta office in June this year, for essentially the same reasons. Narcotics activities in Indonesia will continue to be covered from both countries' respective offices in Singapore.

Summary.

LAOS

The outlook for the balance of 1987 and 1988 in Laos is for continuing growth of narcotics production and trafficking unless the Lao Government initiates stricter measures and accepts assistance to slow it down. Signs of Lao. willingness to cooperate in the aftermath of the Vienna Conference will be highly welcomed by the international community. End Summary.

Currently available

the last the

information indicates that Lao narcotics production has increased substantially in the two years, the result of better weather conditions, stimulation of international traffickers seeking to avoid the growing narcotics controls in neighboring Thailand and Burma, and the lack of effective countermeasures by the Lao Government.

The opium crop in 1986 was an estimated 100-290 metric tons and is grown primarily in the rugged north by traditional cultivators, the Hmong. Marijuana production is believed to be growing rapidly in the lowland areas along the Mekong River. Large fields of marijuana were newly visible around the capital of Vientiane in recent months. There have been reports of Lao marijuana being trafficked out of the country through Thailand and Vietnam.