Office of the Historian

150. Memorandum From the Executive Director of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Matters (Handley) to the Cabinet Committees on Drug Abuse1 2

Washington, undated

SUBJECT:

  • NEW PATTERNS OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS TRAFFIC

The Problem

The President’s international narcotics control program has been a cost effective part of the successful Federal effort to curb heroin abuse. Efforts in Turkey and France have directly contributed to the East Coast heroin shortage of the past year.

As traditional trafficking routes dry up, new ones emerge. Mexico is now the highest priority drug country followed closely by the nations of the Golden Triangle.

Issues to be Resolved

It is imperative that availability of heroin on U.S. streets not return to 1970 levels.

To insure a continuing heroin shortage, new initiatives above currently planned programs must be considered in Mexico and Thailand; also, the U.S. resource level in other major trafficking nations must be examined.

Recommended Positions

A detailed problem analysis and statement of possible options is at Tab A.

Recommended positions from that analysis are as follows:

PART I - MEXICO

Increase diplomatic and personnel/equipment support for the bilateral and border narcotics program to limit drug flow from Mexico (additional cost in FY 75 - $16M).

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PART II - GOLDEN TRIANGLE

1.
Thailand. Increase diplomatic and personnel/equipment support to bilateral Thai-US anti-narcotics program (additional cost in FY 75 - $13M).
2.
Burma. Implement currently approved support program to Burma with no immediate expansion (additional cost in FY 75 - $0).
3.
People’s Republic of China. Seek PRC participation in multi-lateral drug control activities and inform the PRC of our assistance program for Burma.

PART III - OTHER OVERSEAS AREAS

Increase DEA agent strength, subject to country acceptance, in other areas overseas (Europe, Near East and Latin America) by 45 in FY 75 (additional cost in FY 75 - $2M).

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5, 7–1–73. Secret; Exdis; Not for reproduction. Circulated by Laird on November 21, 1973 to members of the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control and the Domestic Council Committee on Drug Abuse.↩
  2. Handley proposed specific bilateral measures and regional initiatives to address international drug-control problems.↩