201. Telegram 266442 From the Department of State to Multiple Posts1 2
For Chief of Mission from Deputy Secretary
Corrected copy (sent all African posts instead of all Latin America posts)
Subject:
- Mission Activities in Support of the USG International Narcotics Program
1. Drug abuse in the United States remains a serious national problem despite various programs to reduce it.
The President and the Cabinet Committee on International Narcotics Control (CCINC), chaired by the Secretary, continue to place high priority emphasis on drug traffic control in our bilateral relations with those countries that figure significantly either as producing nations or major transit nations in the flow of illicit drugs toward the United States. The programs of the CCINC, since its formation in 1971, have had a significant impact in cutting into some of the flow of illicit drugs. However, the extent of the demand in the US, together with the very high profits of this illicit commerce, have limited the effectiveness of our efforts as measured by the availability of illicit narcotics in our country.
2. We are, accordingly, constantly searching for ways in which the Department of State role in the federal effort can be made more effective. This is a matter which is examined, among other things, at the annual regional conferences of Embassy Narcotics Control Coordinators. The most recent of these conferences was held in London for the EUR area on September 21–22. The regional Narcotics Coordinators conference for the NEA area will take place at Islamabad on November 15–16, 1976 and that for the ARA area at Guatemala City on December 9–10, 1976. Chiang Mai has been asked to host the EA area conference in mid-january, 1977. The purpose of this message is to identify several steps which need to be taken and to request that you assure they are taken, as appropriate in your Mission’s context.
3. The problem of achieving improved intelligence servicing of our international narcotics control effort has been examined at each of the regional conferences and is a subject of continuing interagency examination in Washington. We are working toward more effective arrangements here. At the same time our inquiries have revealed the need at most posts for better coordination and utilization of all of the narcotics information gathering capabilities present at the post. This relates primarily to narcotics intelligence, other than individual case data, which is important for our assessments of the significance of a country to our narcotics control interest and which, of course, is most valuable when accompanied by recommendations as to what should be done. That information is basic to Washington decisions on the deployment of personnel and financial resources in the overall program.
4. Our inquiries indicate that at a number of posts there is inadequate coordination of narcotics intelligence reporting by various Mission elements and also that some Mission elements having specialized expertise or capabilities germaine to this type of reporting are not contributing them to the effort to the extent desired. One factor to be considered is that dissemination in Washington should be assured for reports of general interest. (SecState should thus be addressee.) Our concern is primarily, though not solely, with those countries clearly known to be of present significance in the drug production and trafficking picture. We are in the process of drawing up a number of specific intelligence tasking questions for these countries in an effort to fill gaps in our knowledge. Every effort will be made to assure that information requested has not already been reported.
5. It will be appreciated if you would assure that all appropriate resources are being applied to the narcotics intelligence effort. We believe that a standing intelligence coordination mechanism, such as a subcommittee of the Country Team Narcotics Committee, should assure that each Mission element concerned is aware of and has opportunity to comment on what the other is reporting and that periodic analytical assessments are prepared. Information as to the desired frequency of analytical narcotics reports will be included in the messages to the individual posts referred to above.
6. It was evident at the London conference that some Embassy Narcotics Coordinators, notably those more recently assigned to the function, were not fully aware of the importance of the drug abuse issue, the reporting requirements, and their role in the Mission in regard to them. A number of circular messages from the Department concerning our narcotics control effort have been sent out over the past two years. A key message in this series is State 119686 on narcotics: the role of the Embassy Narcotics Coordinator, dated May 22, 1975. A listing of the other principal circular messages on narcotics control matters is being sent separately. I would like you to assure that all designated Narcotics Coordinators, and their supervisors, familiarize themselves with these messages.
7. Also, I am confident that you will give your Narcotics Coordinator the full support and direction needed to bring all concerned Mission elements together. As seen from here, this is particularly important in respect to intelligence gathering and assessment. And, in those countries where the US is conducting a narcotics assistance program, coordination is essential to effective program development, implementation and evaluation.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Ernst; cleared in NEA/RA, EUR/WE, ARA/RPP, EA, S/NM, CIA, DEA, and S/S; and approved by Robinson. Published from a corrected copy. State 119686 is published as Document 177.↩
- The telegram instructed posts to apply all appropriate resources and coordination efforts to drug-related intelligence reporting.↩