CIA TESTIMONY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON DRUG ABUSE AND CONTROL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A000400040007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 30, 1976
• Content Type: MF

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3U September 1976
Executivve Registry
#BMOfANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
1A
1A
Deputy Director for Operations
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Office of Legislative Counsel
pecla s s an for Coordination of
Foreign Narcotics information
SUBJECT: CIA Testimony in Executive Session
Before the House Select Committee
on Drug Abuse and Control
1. Action Rctr u fired:
`.ehis memorandum is primarily for the Director's
information. As noted in paragraph three below, staff
and operational elements are initiating necessary action
to respond to requests made by the Select Committee.
2. Background:
a. After the DCI concluded his public
testimony before the House Select Committee on
29 September 1976, the hearing went into executive
session. Representing the Agency in sworn testimony
at the executive session were Mr. George Cary,
Legislative Counsel; Mr. Theodore G. Shackley,
Associate Deputy Director for Operations;. Mr. Paul
V. y Director for Intelligence
and Special Assistant for
Interne ions Narcotics Information.
h. Mr. Walsh opened the testimony by pre-
senting a summary (at the suggestion of Chairman
Wolff) of the main points contained in the classi-
fied statement prepared for the Director. (Copies
of the Director's prepared unclassified and
classified statements which were submitted to the
v 2 II4PDET
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SUBJECTS CIA Testimony in Executive Session Before
the House Select Committee on Drug Abuse
and Control Page 2
Committee are attached.) After this presentation,
the executive session developed into a useful dis-
cussion of the Agency's role in the government's
international narcotics control efforts and how it
might help the Select Committee. The major points
that developed in this question and answer session
are summarized below. A copy of the full tran-
script is being obtained from the Select Committee
and will be forwarded once it has been received.
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OPEN SESSION STATEMENT
by
Mr. George Bush
Director of Central Intelligence
before the
House Select Committee on Drug Abuse and Control
1000 hours - Room 210 Cannon Building
29 September 1976
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Mr. Chairman:
I am happy to appear before this newly established Select
Committee to discuss the role that the Central Intelligence Agency
plays in our Government's efforts to stop the flow of illegal
narcotics into the United States. We are fully. aware of this
menace to our society and s.are the concern of the Congress
and of the country. In accordance with Presidential directive,
the CIA is supporting the law enforcement agencies which have
primary responsibility for narcotics control - the principal agency
being the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mr. Chairman, it should be made clear at the outset that the
CIA's basic charter, the National Security Act of 1947, expressly
provides that the Agency has no law enforcement or police powers.
Accordingly, CIA's role is limited to providing appropriate agencies
with intelligence identifying the flow of international illegal
narcotics traffic into the United States. Such collection is not
intended to include information for use as evidence in criminal
prosecutions. More clearly stated, the Agency cannot be directly
involved in any criminal investigative efforts to develop evidence
needed for arrest and prosecution. This important point must be
understood as I believe there have been serious misconceptions
as to the exact role of the Central Intelligence Agency in this effort.
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The CIA did not become formally tasked to develop intelligence
concerning international illegal narcotics traffic until October 1969
when President Nixon established a White House Task Force on
Narcotics Control, Prior to 19691 CIA provided informational support
on its own initiative and on an ad hoc basis to Federal agencies responsible
for. international narcotics control, The White House Task Force was
given the mission to formulate and implement a program to stem the flow
of heroin and opiates into the United States. A representative of the
Director of Central Intelligence was appointed to fie Task Force, and
the'CIA was requested to use its existing intelligence gathering
apparatus, to the extent. possible, to provide foreign narcotics-related
intelligence to other agencies which were involved in diplomatic, enforce-
ment and treatment and rehabilitation initiatives coordinated by the Task
Force.
In September 1971, the President elevated international narcotics
control to a higher priority and established the Cabinet Committee
on International Narcotics Control (CCINC) to succeed the Task Force.
The CCINC was made responsible for coordinating all United States
diplomatic, intelligence and enforcement activities aimed at curtailing
the flow of illegal narcotics and dangerous drugs into the country..
The Director was appointed a member of the CCINC, and the Agency
was delegated the responsibility for coordinating all United States
- 'clandestine foreign narcotics intelligence gathering with respect to
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The CIA provides CCINC member agencies with a wide range of
foreign intelligence information to help the United States achieve two
basic objectives: --to obtain the cooperation of foreign governments
in curtailing the production and trafficking of narcotics; --to .provide
foreign and appropriate United States enforcement agencies with the
identities and methods of major foreign drug traffickers.
Executive Order 11905, issued on 19 February 1976 by President
Ford, discusses United States Foreign Intelligence Activities and sets
forth the authorities and responsibilities of the intelligence departments
and agencies.'. It confirms the role of the CIA in this area by expressly
making the Agency responsible for the collection and production of
intelligence on foreign aspects of narcotics traffic. Subsequent.
instruction from the White House has made it clear that this respon-
sibility is limited by the proscription in the National Security Act of 1947
which I previously mentioned and that the Agency's efforts concern only
"strategic" intelligence relating to international narcotics -traffic such
as identifying major source countries for narcotics and predominant
international routes for transporting narcotics.
Mr. Chairman, any further discussions of CIA's activities in this
field involve classified matters. Therefore, I would respectfully request,
that any further testimony be given in Executive Session.
Thank you.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION STATEMENT
by
rd.
Mr. George Bush.
Director of Central Intelligence
before the
House Select Committee on Drug Abuse and Control
1000 hours - Room 210 Cannon Building
29 September 1976
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ONLY
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
CIA Testimony in Executive Session Before the House Select
Committee on Drug Abuse and c'o~ o1
FROM:
C/OPS/NARC
2 E 14
Hgs
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DDO
7 E 22
Hqs.
DDI
7 E 44
Hqs.
OLC
7 D 35
HC
DCI
7 E 12
Hqs.
30
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
3. For your information.
and forwarding.
5. For your information
and forwarding.
7. The attached memorand
is forwarded for your
information.
rT30 September 1976
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1. For your information
and forwarding.
1A
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FORM USE PREVIOUS INTERNAL UNCLASSIFIED
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