final NNICC approval which is expected by the end of the year. I wish to emphasize the softness of these estimates of production, imports and availability, which we are striving to improve. The preliminary NNICC estimate is that national supplies of marijuana were in the range of 12,340 to 14,090 metric tons in 1982, compared to estimated range of 9,600 to 13,900 metric tons. The estimate is that imports were in the range of 10,340 to 12,090 metric tons, compared to a range of 8,700 to 12,700 metric tons in 1981. Colombia continues to dominate the U.S. marijuana market. Estimated imports from Colombia in 1982 were in a range of 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons, compared to a range of 7,500 to 11,000 metric tons in 1981. The NNICC estimate is that Colombia's share of total U.S. supply declined from 79 percent to 57 percent. The estimate is that domestic production increased from a range of 900 to 1,200 metric tons in 1981 to an estimated 2,000 metric tons in 1982, increasing the domestic market share from 9 percent to about 15 percent. Jamaica's estimated market share increased from an estimated 9 percent to 16 percent, while Mexico's estimated share rose from 3 percent to 6 percent. Retail marijuana prices were reported to be relatively static in 1982; however, Jamaican wholesale prices increased slightly while Colombian wholesale prices declined. Marginal exporters to the United States in 1982 included Belize, Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica and Panama, which are now estimated to account collectively for 6 percent of the U.S. cannabis market. A factor affecting the market profile, according to DEA, is the preference among U.S. users for high-grade cannabis products, such as sensimilla, which is produced in the United States and in Jamaica, Belize and Mexico. This move away from lower-potency marijuana is expected to continue. Authority for U.S. support of marijuana eradication programs using paraquat was restored by the Congress in December 1981. The Department of State thereafter began the process of compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act and related Executive Orders, to satisfy health and environment concerns related to paraquat use. On December 21, 1982, I approved an Environmental Impact Statement permitting U.S. support for programs for herbicidal eradication of marijuana in the Western Hemisphere. Imports of hashish are estimated to have remained at approximately 200 metric tons. The principal suppliers of hashish were Lebanon, Pakistan and Morocco, with a small but indeterminate amount of hashish oil being provided by Jamaica. 1983 production The NNICC analysts are projecting increased cannabis cultivation in Colombia in 1983, but have not made projections for Mexico, Jamaica and other suppliers. However, there is a question as to how much of the foreign production will reach the U.S. market in 1983-84. This year, marijuana eradication programs using paraquat have been conducted in Mexico and Belize, while Colombia continued its manual eradication programs. There are ongoing enforcement efforts in Mexico, Belize and Colombia which are designed both to eradicate cannabis crops and to seize marijuana in transit. Also, Jamaica has begun what we hope will be a sustained eradication and interdiction program. The Belizan program is particularly noteworthy, because it involved a bilateral agreement under which Belize and Mexico conducted a joint eradication project, with U.S. assistance. The objective is to contain any expanded 1983 cultivation, by limiting imports through interdiction efforts, while simultaneously preparing the eradication programs needed to reduce cannabis cultivation in all source areas. The Government of Mexico is continuing its effective herbicidal eradication programs against marijuana. We are hopeful that Colombia and Jamaica will undertake comprehensive cannabis eradication programs in 1983, including the use of herbicidal eradication where appropriate. We will continue to encourage the governments of cannabis source countries to undertake comprehensive eradication programs, and we will continue to monitor developments in potential new sources, as we have in Belize. And, we will continue our role in the multi-agency effort to interdict trafficking in marijuana and other drugs through the Caribbean and Central America. PRODUCERS Colombia Background.-Colombia is the major exporter of marijuana to the United States (67 percent of total estimated imports in 1982, which amounted to 57 percent of supply from all sources). The NNICC estimate is that 1982 Colombian cannabis production was 13,500 metric tons, cultivated on 15,000 acres. The NNICC further estimates that 7,0008,000 metric tons were exported to the United States. The difference between production and U.S.-bound exports includes estimated crop losses due to eradication, seizures, weather damage, and losses due to quality control. An unknown amount is consumed in Colombia. Colombia's share of the U.S. market also declined in 1982, according to NNICC analysis, because of competition from other marijuana sources, especially those supplying higher potency sensimilla, and, related to that, a perception that other marijuana is of superior quality. Currently, Colombia employs a manual marijuana eradication program and has undertaken a substantial interdiction effort. In 1981, Colombian authorities reported seizing 3,310 metric tons of marijuana, a 345 percent increase over 1980. In 1982, Colombian officials reported seizing 3,409 metric tons of marijuana. The authorities also reported manually destroying 8.5 million marijuana plants. Current status.-The government of President Betancur has been positive in its statements to U.S. officials, including President Reagan, on Colombia's commitment to narcotics control. Since taking office in August, 1982, the Betancur Administration has increased Colombia's narcotics enforcement efforts, including both interdiction and manual crop eradication, and has undertaken an evaluation of more comprehensive programs for the eradication of marijuana cultivation. We have had continuing discussions with the Colombians on a range of narcotics-related issues, and continue to support their effective interdiction efforts. The United States has encouraged the Government of Colombia to undertake expanded eradication and interdiction programs. We have provided technical assistance and training, and financial resources to upgrade Colombian capabilities in drug interdiction and manual eradication, in judicial processing and intelligence collection, as well as in abuse prevention to help the Colombians cope with their drug abuse problems. The National Police Special Anti-Narcotics Unit (SAÑU) has recorded impressive marijuana seizures, and there has been manual destruction of marijuana plants, but enormous cultivation remains. In late September, a Colombian technical assistance team visited Mexico and the United States, meeting with officials in both countries to review crop control methods. The government has approved interactions with other Latin countries, particularly the technical exchanges with Mexico. One of the important developments regarding Colombia is its emerging effort to cope with its domestic drug abuse problem, especially the smoking of "bazuco" by its young people. A major drug abuse prevention conference, which INM assisted, was held in early October in Bogota, under the auspices of the Ministries of Health and Justice. This first-of-its kind event not only attracted a host of Colombian officials with narcotics and drug abuse responsibilities, and delegates from Peru and Bolivia, but the anti-drug messages received prominence in Colombian newspapers, television and radio programs. The recognition of Colombia's drug abuse problem at this conference was important, because many Colombians have long considered drug trafficking a problem created by and pertaining solely to the United States. There is increasing recognition in both government and the private sector of the negative effects the drug problem is having on Colombia. Corruption among government officials, the growth of an illegal economy the government does not regulate or tax, linkages between insurgent movements and drug traffickers, and threats to political stability-including an open involvement in politics-have increased Colombian awareness of and concern about drug-related problems. Outlook.-Officials participating in the NNICC Subcommittee on Production believe the fall cultivation for 1983 may be as much as 60 percent larger than plantings for the preceding drought-affected period. A preliminary estimate is that 15,000 metric tons could be harvested. There is no prediction yet on how this production will affect the U.S. market. Colombia has strengthened the interdiction efforts of its SANU forces, including an expansion from three to five helicopters for use in narcotics operations. U.S. authorities have also intensified their interdiction efforts. Mexico Background.-Mexican production has been severely limited by the Government's eradication program and there is no expectation that Mexico will once again dominate the U.S. marijuana market, as it did in the early Seventies. However, it is estimated that exports to the United States increased in 1982, from a range of 300-500 metric tons to 750 tons. Current status.-The narcotics eradication program undertaken in cooperation with the Mexican Attorney General's office has been the Department's largest international narcotics control program. Over an 11-year period, the United States has invested more than $110 million in this cooperative effort, but the Mexican government has spent larger amounts, including its procurement of paraquat for use against cannabis. The Mexicans have lost 18 airmen in the anti-narcotics program. The key to the success of the campaign was the decision of the Mexican government to use aerial spraying of herbicides instead of manual eradication to destroy the narcotic crops. The semi-annual report from the Mexican government shows that control actions have increased during the current year; for example, the Mexicans reported that, in the December, 1982 to June, 1983, period, they had eradicated 570 hectares of marijuana on 6,281 fields. Manual eradication accounted for an additional 152 hectares of marijuana. Also in this period, the Mexicans seized 48,321 kilos of marijuana. In the period December 1981 to December 1982, the Mexican Government reported spraying 11,046 marijuana fields totalling 788 hectares. In Mexico, the average marijuana field was one-tenth of a hectare. Field sizes reflect in part the countering tactics of the growers of cannabis and opium poppy: as efforts to eradicate become more successful, Mexican authorities are finding that the fields are becoming smaller, more isolated, and more difficult to detect. To counter these tactics, the Government of Mexico has changed its own search and destroy tactics against opium poppy and cannabis. This week the Mexicans are observing tests of a U.S. crop duster airplane (the Thrush) and a new type of spraying boom, operable on both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. This equipment should permit close control of spraying in hard to reach cultivation areas. The United States is also assisting in the continued modernization of the MAGO air wing's operations and maintenance center. Outlook. We believe that the Mexican eradication program, which has been supported despite Mexico's economic problems, continues to succeed in destroying the bulk of cannabis cultivated in Mexico. We note that several large fields were established by traffickers in non-traditional growing areas, but these were located and subsequently destroyed. Although large fields have probably been cultivated in 1983 as well, we believe continued U.S. and Mexican efforts against cannabis cultivation and marijuana trafficking will continue to succeed in keeping most of Mexico's production of U.S. markets. Jamaica Background.-Jamaica is a source of high-grade sensemilla, as well as lower-potency marijuana, and is this Hemisphere's only producer of hashish oil. The estimate is that cannabis imports from Jamaica increased from an estimated range of 900-1,200 metric tons in 1981 to 1,750-2,500 metric tons in 1982, with an increase in market share from 9 percent to 16 percent. Cannabis cultivation is estimated in a range of 3,500-5,000 acres. Current status.-There has been an active cooperation effort among DEA, other U.S. and Jamaican law enforcement agencies for many years, including Coast Guard collaboration with its Jamaican counterparts in controlling seaborne trafficking. We have funded training by DEA and U.S. Customs for Jamaican police and customs officials in narcotics detection and enforcement. We are processing requests to provide equipment to the Jamaican police to assist its narcotics enforcement activities. Outlook.-We are interested in engaging the Government of Jamaica in a cooperative program to control illicit cannabis (ganja) production, and its exports of marijuana to the United States. I met with Jamaican officials in September to assure them we will give favorable consideration to a Government of Jamaica request for assistance on a cooperative control effort. There have been subsequent indications that the Government of Prime Minister Seaga is prepared to take a series of new steps to improve both eradication and interdiction efforts. In October 1982, the Jamaican police reportedly destroyed 138 acres of marijuana. In September 1983, the Government eradicated about 250 acres of marijuana being cultivated on government-owned lands in the Brumdec area. OTHER PRODUCERS For its 1982 estimates, the forthcoming NNICC report shows that 840 metric tons, or 6 percent of U.S. supply, comes from "other" countries. The DEA estimate is that the "other" category includes: Thailand, 240 metric tons; Brazil, 200 metric tons; Belize, 200 metric tons; Costa Rica, 100 metric tons; and Panama, 100 metric tons. Small amounts of marijuana were also believed to have been imported from such countries as Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala, Guyana, Dominica and St. Kitts. Cultivation of cannabis for export purposes has been observed in these areas, but the amounts of both cultivation and export are undetermined. The Department, with DEA, continues to be watchful for development of new cannabis cultivation sources. Belize Our Embassy in Belize, based upon extensive DEA field surveys, reported a rapid expension in marijuana cultivation, most of which was intended for exportation to the United States. The Belizans asked the Mexicans for assistance, and the two governments formed a bilateral effort to destroy the marijuana crops by the aerial spraying of herbicides. The United States has facilitated marijuana eradication projects in which Belize was assisted by Mexico, and is planning direct U.S. assistance for further eradication efforts. Last month, the most recent Belize-Mexico operation resulted in the destruction of 1,200 acres of marijuana in 13 days; reports indicate that virtually all cannabis under cultivation was destroyed. This cultivation could have yielded as much as 1,300 metric tons of marijuana. We have an agreement to provide police vehicles and other commodities to better support future eradication operations. Brazil Approximately 700 tons of marijuana were reportedly grown in Northeastern Brazil in 1981-and at least some of this production was exported-200 metric tons to the United States, according to NNICC analysts. Costa Rica The Costa Rican government is concerned about cannabis growth; DEA estimates that Costa Rica exported about 100 metric tons of marijuana to the United States in 1982. INM has provided training and communications gear to the Drug Control Policy organization (DGCD) and we are now supplying vehicles and other equipment. Panama DEA estimates that Panama exported about 100 metric tons of marijuana to the United States in 1982, and is a transit point for narcotics transshipped from South America. A transportation hub for Latin America, Panama is a connecting stop for commercial airlines, a flag of convenience for shippers, and a waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific. Panama is also a bank haven and its "free zone" is a transit point for a large volume of commerce, which facilitates drug smuggling. The drug unit in the National Guard has arrested numerous couriers and is very cooperative in authorizing the Coast Guard to board and, if drugs are found, seize Panamanian flag vessels on the high seas. INM has provided communications equipment, radio, and laboratory equipment to the drug unit of the National Guard. Several countries in the Central America and Caribbean regions are participating in the IAMIN telex network, which links island nation enforcement agencies to the United States Coast Guard; INM financially supported this communications project. We are exploring direct assistance to the Panamanian government for marijuana eradication. HASHISH The NNICC estimate is that approximately 200 metric tons of hashish entered this country in 1982. The exporters (and their percent of the U.S. market) were: Lebanon, 43 percent; Pakistan, 41 percent; Morocco, 10 percent; all other, 6 percent. There is an expectation among NNICC analysts that hashish imports may decline in competition with sensemilla. However, there has been some recovery in hashish traffic. While still well below the 1980 estimate of 650 tons, Lebanese production is reported to have increased from a 1981 range of 90 to 200 tons to a 1982 estimate of 200 to 500 metric tons. Mr. HUGHES. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 9,460-12,847 11,153 First, I wonder if you can tell me a little bit about the National Narcotics Intelligence Consumers Committee, the membership, and how they collect their data? Can you provide us with some profile of that particular_committee? Mr. DICARLO. I can give you an overview of it, but the lead agency in that committee is the DEA, and I believe that Mr. Frank |