LETTER TO MR. EDWARD STEPHENSON FROM(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001600040012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2004
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: March 10, 1978
• Content Type: LETTER

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OLC: 78-0692/a
Mr. Edward Stephenson
General Government Division
General Accounting Office
Washington, D.C. 20548
Dear Mr. Stephenson:
We have completed our review of your draft report entitled,
"Drug Control Efforts in South America Having Limited Success--
Future Outlook also Dim. " We have found the report to be well written
and accurate overall, although we strongly recommend that the following
changes be incorporated in your final report.
The report emphasizes the paucity of usable tactical narcotics
intelligence information and the lack of analysis of the information that
is collected. The report also gives the impression that DEA and CIA
share equal responsibility for the collection of tactical narcotics
information which is not, in fact, the case. The CIA emphasis is on the
collection of strategic intelligence information such as trends, sources
of supply and foreign governmental corruption. We collect and report
tactical information, generally speaking, as a by-product of our field
operations which are themselves designed to gather information to be
utilized in the formulation of narcotics control policies. It is our
recommendation that the sentence, "In addition, the CIA provides drug
intelligence to DEA, " appearing in your report on page 15 be deleted
and the following substituted:
"CIA's primary focus is on the collection of strategic intelligence
information of use in the formulation of narcotics control policies.
The Agency also provides useful tactical narcotics information
to DEA concerning foreign traffickers and their supporting
networks. 91
With regard to the lack of analysis of narcotics information, CIA
and DEA are currently working on a joint effort in Washington to produce
a series of in-depth profiles on major cocaine trafficking networks. The
first of these studies, done on prominent nets operating in Peru and
Colombia, has been forwarded to the field. We recommend that following
"Where intelligence data had been gathered, for the most part, it had not
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been analyzed," which appears on page 15 of the report a footnote be
added as follows:
"It is encouraging to note, however, that CIA and DEA are
currently working on a joint effort in Washington to analyze
and collate all of the available information concerning the
most prominent cocaine networks trafficking in South America
This material is being included in a series of in-depth profiles
of the major cocaine trafficking networks to support ongoing
investigations. "
We wish to note an apparent typographical error on page 16, line
two. The word "collected" should more appropriately be replaced by
the word "collated."
In regard to the cocaine estimates cited on page ii of the Digest and
page 10 of the report, we suggest that GAO contact the Office of Drug
Abuse Policy, as they recently produced a collation of estimates of
cocaine and heroin consumption and production which we believe to be
the best figures now available.
We appreciate the opportunity to present our comments and offer
no objections to the publishing of the report with the above recommended
changes.
Sincerely.
Acting Legislative Counsel
cc:
SA/DO/O
C/P
ICS
or
Dis ri u ion:
Original - Addressee
1 - OLC Subject
1 - OLC Chrono
OLC:MDC:mlg (2 March 1978)
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28 February 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR:
OLC C R
FROM:
C PC
SUBJECT: GAO Report on Drug Control Efforts
in South America
1. The proposed GAO report on "Drug Control
Efforts in South America....." has been reviewed by
PCS/NAR and LA Division officers and we have no
major problems with the (unclassified) text.
2. T'-le, report emphasizes the paucity of
usable tactical narcotics intelligence information
and the lack of analysis of the information that is
collected. The report gives the impression that DEA
and CIA share equal responsibility for the collection
of tactical narcotics information. This is not the
case. CIA, as I explained to the GAO prior to the
field investigation, emphasizes the collection of
strategic intelligence information, e.g. trends,
sources of supply, corruption, etc., and collects
and reports tactical information generally as a by-
product of our operations which are designed to
gather information of use in the formulation of
narcotics control policies. A sentence or two
clarifying the CIA role would help place the GAO
review in proper perspective.
3. With regard to the lack of analysis of
narcotics information, CIA and DEA are currently
working on a joint effort in Washington to produce
a series of in-depth profiles on major cocaine traf-
ficking networks. The first of these studies, done
on prominent nets operating in Peru and Colombia,
have been sent to the field. I believe that mention
of this project would again give the GAO a more
balanced estimate of the overall effort.
FOR INTERNAL TISr ONLY
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SUBJECT: GAO Report on Drug Control Efforts in
South America Page 2
4. Some of the cocaine estimates cited in the
GAO report (page ii of the Digest and page 10 of the
report itself) either leave too wide a range or are
seemingly inaccurate. I would suggest that the GAO
contact the Office of Drug Abuse Policy which pulled
together in December 1977 estimates of cocaine and
heroin consumption and production that are probably
the best available estimates the U.S.G. has to work
with.
5. A minor point, but I believe that on page
16, line two, the word "collated" should be used
rather than "collected."
Attachment: Subject Report
cc: C/PCS
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Regarding paragraph 2 of my memo: On page 15,
I would replace the sentence "In addition, the CIA
provides drug intelligence to DEA." with two sentences:
"CIA's primary focus is on the collection of
strategic intelligence information of use in the
formulation of narcotics control policies. The
Agency also provides useful tactical narcotics
information to DEA concerning foreign traffickers
and their supporting networks."
Regarding para 3 of my memo: again on page 15
I would add to the footnote at the bottom of the page
"It is encouraging to note, however, that
CIA and DEA are currently working on a joint effort
in Washington to analyze and collate all of the
available information concerning the most prominent
cocaine networks trafficking in South America.
This material is being included in a series of in-depth
profiles of the major cocaine trafficking networks
to support ongoing investigations.
25X1
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