MEETING WITH DAVID MARTIN OF THE SENATE INTERNAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF ON 26 JULY 1972

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2005
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: July 31, 1972
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Releas - R000200140031-7
.31 July 1972
SUBJECT: Meeting with David Martin of the Senate Internal
Security Subcommittee Staff on 26 July 1972
1. The morning of 26 July I had a session of about two
hours with David Martin, member of the staff of the Senate
Internal Security Subcommittee. This was a follow-on to the
session and I had with Martin on 20 July. At
that earli r meeting Martin had suggested that we have another
session. II was not able to go on 26 July. 25X1
of OLC accompanied me on 26 July.
a. At the 26 July session, I passed to Martin a
copy of a classified Special Report on Communist China and
drugs (Weekly Summary Special Report, "China and International
Narcotics Control," 23 July 1972, No. 0375/72A, SECRET, copy
1035). This was given to Martin with a reiteration of the
ground rules on his being lent classified documents. I had
this report with me on 20 July when Martin was given a num-
ber of other classified memoranda (see my M/R of 25 July),
but did not pass it at that time because we did not discuss
the question of China at that earlier meeting.
2. The session with Martin covered a large number of
subjects, largely in connection with the Martin-Walt-Gillies
trip. Some subjects came up more than once during the session.
With regard to Southeast Asia, Martin was interested in the
role of Chinese in the narcotics business and the role of
Communists in the business community. He said that on their
trip they had been told in Hong Kong that the British never
search Mainland China ships or cargo; he said that General
Walt will not criticize the British on this. The situation
in Macao, Martin said, is similar to that in Hong Kong.
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/06/j-IDP74B004i5R000200140031-7
 Approved For Release 2
3. A question came up about'a document referred to in
the press '(Washi:ngton Post editorial on 26 July; earlier re-
ferred to in the New York Times); I explained what the docu-
ment was (the 21 February 1972 "Flott Report" ofJthe three-
man task force).
4. I gathered from Martin that the Martin-Walt-Gillies
team had not on their trip looked into the question of possi-
ble transporation of narcotics on Air America plans. Martin
indicated he was now thinking of sending off a cable, through
Walt's office, to ask Air America in the field for a state-
ment with regard to recent allegations. 0 provided Martin
the name of an Air America official to get in touch with.
5. With regard to Chinese Communist involvement or non-
involvement in illicit narcotics trafficking, Martin indicated
that he certainly did not accept the 10,000-ton figure used
by some, but his remarks suggested that he was not so con-
vinced as regards lower figures. He said the British in Hong
Kong had made it clear that they are not looking for Chinese
Communist opiates, and he said that Hong Kong is a major po-
tential outlet. "We have no way of knowing" the facts here
because "no systematic effort" is being made to find out--"for
political reasons."
6. Martin asked whether countries which have seized
narcotics materials send samples of these materials to the
UN in Geneva, and, if so, what kind of results are available
from these as to the places of origin. I said I would see
if we had information on this.
7. There was soi4e discussion of users/addicts/experi-
menters in this country and the statistics on same. I sug-
gested that Martin discuss some aspects of this when he talks
with SAODAP.
8. Martin said that one of the members of their team
had found that drugs were available "across the bar" on
Okinawa, and he said that drugs were freely available in
Hong Kong. He said there were perhaps 50 to 100 bars in Hong
Kong.frequented by servicemen, including British servicemen.
He said he did not think it too much to ask the British to
do more policing of the bars in Hong Kong, to make some ar-
rests.
9. Martin said`vhe thought that by and large Walt's
view will be a balanced one. Walt will not say that it is
all Communist narcotics, and he will not use the 10,000-ton
am
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/06/06 : CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7
 Approved For Release 2 0200140031-7
25X1
figure. Martin said that some elements of the far right have
gone too far on this. Basically, Martin said, it is 'a police
problem, and basically a criminal problem, but he posed the
question as to whether there is a Communist influence, not
just Chinese, along the line. He said there has been some
evidence that "Castro-Cubans" have been involved in narcotics
smuggling from Latin America. I noted the reported involve-
ment of some Cuban exiles. Martin said he understood that
CIA has someone putting together all information available
regarding "Castro Cuba'and trafficking in coccaine (and other
drugs). I said that I did not know of such a paper being
prepared, but that I would ask. (I am passing the query on
this to DDP/NARCOG).
a. In this connection Martin referred to Charles
Siragusa's The Trail of the Poppy (Prentice Hall, 1966)
Chapter 13, "Cocaine, Castro and Cuba."
b. Martin also said that a BNDD man visiting Mexico
City when Martin and the others were there referred to a num-
ber of cases involving "Castro Cubans."
c. Martin also said that some persons arrested have
given testimony indicating fairly sizable trafficking--the
drugs being sold and the proceeds being fed back as arms to
guerrillas.
10. Martin indicated interest in the T I R Convention
and the use of T I R vehicles for narcotic smuggling. I
gave him some realistic background on this. He was interested
in seeing a copy of the T I R Convention. I have since talked
with State's Walter Weiss, who has agreed to send Martin a
copy of the convention. I have informed Martin (telephone:
225-8249) that Weiss will send him a copy.
11. Martin visited INTERPOL Headquarters in France,
and we discussed INTERPOL. On questions about the US parti-
cipation and the possibility of larger US funding to INTERPOL,
I suggested that Martin talk with Kenneth Giannoules, head
of the US INTERPOL office here. As I promised I would, I
have since called Martin and given him Giannoules' telephone
number and official address.
12. Martin said that they had been told by a Customs
man somewhere on their trip between Hong Kong and Laos) that
it was his understanding' that after an attempt had been made
to search a Chinese ship in Naples, Chinese ships have been
"immune" to search in Western Europe. Did we know anything
about this? (I will pass this query to OER.)
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/06/0 -~ P74B00415R000200140031-7
 Approved For Release 2005/06/06.: CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7
25X1
13. Martin said they had also been told in Hong Kong
that the Chinese Communists operate a number of ships out of
Hong Kong, that is, vessels of shipping companies registered
in Hong Kong. He asked whether we could provide a list of
Hong Kong-registered shipping companies known or believed to
be under Chinese Communist control, and a list of the ships
of these companies. (I will pass this query to OER.)
14. With regard to what the Martin-Walt-Gillies
team learned in Mexico, Martin indicated one thing was that
there is a BNDD-Customs "war" there. --On the question of
the official Mexican attitude, he said that conceivably the
most important thing will be a case, which-may be submitted
to the Mexican president, involving a "very important"
Mexican. If the Mexican president acts on that case, the
attitude in the country will change. -- Martin said a BNDD
man in Mexico had said something about being handicapped in
operations because he did not have ready money for his opera-
tions, and he said this had been confirmed
Martin said he had mentioned this matter to Krogh.
-- Martin also said that they were told that Mexican customs
men, if they see some contraband, get a cut of the sale price
of that contraband, except that in the case of narcotics, there
is no reward for the customs men. The implication was that
something might be done about this.
25X1
25X1
DDI coordinator On
International Narcotics Matters
Distribution:
Orig - Congressional File
1 - ADDI
1 - D/OCI
1 - OLC
1 - DDP/NARCOG
1 - D/OER
1 - OER Attn:
1 - Chrono
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/06/06 CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7
 Approved For Release 2005/06/06 : CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7
TRANSMITTAL SLIP
ROOM NO.
7D 43
REMARKS:
ROOM NO.
7G25
FORM
I FEB 55 24 1
31 July 1972
BUILDING
Hqs
BUILDING
HQs
REPLACES FORM 36-8
WHICH MAY BE USED.
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/06/06 : CIA-RDP74B00415R000200140031-7