812.114 Narcotics/8–947
The Secretary of State to
the Embassy in Mexico
No. 1407
Washington
, August 9,
1947.
The Secretary of State encloses herewith, in duplicate, for the
information of the Embassy a copy of a statement made by Mr. Harry J.
Anslinger, United States Representative on the Commission on Narcotic
Drugs of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, at Lake
Success, New York, on July 30, 1947, in regard to the narcotics
situation in Mexico.
There is also enclosed herewith, in duplicate, a copy of a report, dated
July 28, 1947,62
concerning a shooting affray that occurred near Calexico, California,
between Mexican smugglers and United States narcotics and customs
enforcement officers, which Mr. Anslinger made available to the
Commission on Narcotic Drugs for its information.
[Enclosure]
Statement of the United States Representative
on the Commission on Narcotic Drugs of the United Nations, Mr.
Harry J. Anslinger, Regarding the Narcotics Situation in
Mexico
I have received information from the representative of the United
States63 who accompanied the Mexican officials
engaged in making an aerial survey in Mexico last spring that the
cultivation of the opium poppy in Mexico covers a large area and is
increasing year after year. It is estimated on the basis of
observation and photographs of [Page 837] an area of about 1,000 square miles that the
poppy fields now number close to 10,000, averaging one-half hectare
(1–¼ acre) or more per field. The total area is between 4,000 and
5,000 hectares (10,000 and 12,500 acres), producing from 32 to 40
metric tons of opium. The principal opium producing area is roughly
6,000 square miles in extent. It forms a rectangle east of
Bodiriguato, Sinaloa. It extends in a northwesterly direction with
the eastern boundary on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre
mountains.
The aerial survey I have mentioned was made northeast of Bodiriguato.
In this limited area of approximately 1,000 square miles, 1500 to
1700 fields were observed. Outside of the 1000 square miles main
area an additional 3000 fields were observed.
For various reasons, notably the change in the administration, a
misconception of the extent of the task, the lack of manpower and
finances, the 1947 opium poppy destruction campaign conducted by the
Attorney General achieved poor results. Approximately 200 poppy
fields, having a total area of only 36 hectares (90 acres) were
destroyed by a ground expedition.
The cultivation of the opium poppy in Mexico, although prohibited by
Mexican law, appears to be tolerated by the state and local
authorities in the producing areas, with the possible exception of
the State of Sonora.
It is reported that between 20 and 30 secret landing strips for
airplanes have been constructed in Mexico to handle the
transportation of narcotics from Mexico to the United States. There
is confirmation of this on both sides of the border. The Mexican
Government recently seized a plane loaded with narcotics in Mexico
and a crashed plane containing the bodies of two known narcotic
smugglers was found in the United States. We also have information
that underworld groups in the United States have their
representatives in Mexico to promote the cultivation of the opium
poppy, to purchase the crop and to arrange for its transformation
into more valuable and less bulky derivatives, thereby facilitating
transportation.
Information received from reliable sources indicates that there are
twelve or more clandestine laboratories in Mexico, a few of which
are large and well equipped. Two of the laboratories have been
seized during the last few months. It is estimated that at least
one-half of the raw opium produced in Mexico is being processed into
either morphine or heroin.
The United States is concerned over the narcotics situation in Mexico
because most of the narcotics produced are intended for smuggling
across the border into our country and are a serious menace to the
health of our people. In order to present a picture of [Page 838] the present situation
along the border, I have in a separate paper described in detail a
shooting affray that occurred a few weeks ago at Woodbine near
Calexico between desperate Mexican smugglers and narcotics and
customs enforcement officers of the United States. I am authorized
to state that my Government hopes that the Mexican Government will
increase its activity without delay, in consonance with its
international obligations, with a view to suppressing the illicit
cultivation of opium poppies within its borders.
