WHITE HOUSE REQUEST THAT THE AGENCY UNDERTAKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC OPIUM POPPY MONITORING SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A000700110001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 2, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 30, 1977
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA : Acting Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : Sayre Stevens
Deputy Director, National Foreign Assessment Center
SUBJECT : White House Request That the Agency Undertake the
Development of a Strategic Opium Poppy Monitoring
System
1. Action Requested:
a. That you approve the Agency undertaking a feasibility
study for forecasting the size and location of world-
wide poppy cultivation, as recommended in paragraph 5
below.
b. That you approve and sign the proposed letter to
Dr. Peter Bourne, Special Assistant to the President,
which is appended as Attachment 1.
2. Background: A letter to you from Dr. Peter Bourne dated
15 September 1977 requested the CIA to undertake the development of
a strategic opium poppy monitoring system (Attachment 2). You are
aware that this request by the White House represents a culmination
of some 18 months of numerous formal and informal meetings between
Agency, DEA, and the White House staff to discuss ideas and concepts
relevant to improving the USG's strategic intelligence posture on
international narcotics matters. Initially, the impetus for such
discussions was provided by OMB. In more recent times, the charge
has been picked up by Dr. Bourne's staff -- the Office of Drug
Abuse Policy in the White House.
3. The focus from the start, as represented in the Interagency
Crop Detection Technology Review Committee report (Attachment 3)
that Dr. Bourne makes reference to in his letter to you, has been
on the applicability of an approach to monitoring and
assessing illicit poppy cultivation on a global scale. In the
spring of 1976, the CIA -- principally OGCR and ORD -- submitted
a remote sensing concept paper to OMB principals which outlined a
proposed development program that would initially be developed
intelligence data. The concept has been formally reviewed by the
above mentioned interagency committee, reporting to Dr. Bourne,
with the recommendation that it be approved for funding. _
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