DEA Correspondence and CIA Response Regarding Congressional Inquiries on Drug Trafficking and Contra Resupply

STAT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  ? ad Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy puuabeiallfor Release 2012/08/13: CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9_ “TRANSMITTAL SLIP ROOM NO. | BUILDING 7 / JE-}o | ay REMARKS: ) OTAT FROM: | ROOM NO. _["BUILDING |7/7 — —>f ~o] i ; S o Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for eee 2012/08/13 : (47) CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 AAY BE USE 4 Declassified in Part- See Copy Approved ter Releas e 2012/08/13 :CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 NolErs 040-8 ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET : SUBJECT: (Optiona!) 4 Letter to DEA Regarding STAT FROM: IMS/ = ate IMS 4SO : &¥ STAT STAT *2D27 HQS 4 October 1988 : oe designation, room number, ond DATE OFRCER'S | COMMENTS (Number each comment ve thow from whom |scene |roewasoen| n INITIALS to whom. Orew a line ocross column cfter each comment. 1. C/IMS C/IMS, a mals oc re 1D4109 Aes C/IMS 1D4109 HQS ee C/PCS 2E03 HQS K cet io SO ADDO rae Tae DDO 7626 HQS Executive Registry 7B12 HQS 1 OT 10 AADC I igi 6 D60 HQS - 7D60 HQs Abas 7 i” ra ie STAT ® U.S. Geverament Printing Office: 1988--494-63400156 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 *  25X11 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 ~@& V4 Pod  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 | [z SECRET Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 18 OCT 1988 Mr. John C. Lawn Administrator Drug Enforcement Administration Washington, D.C. 20537 Dear Mr. Lawn: In reference to your request dated 9 September 1988 for. information concerning 25X11 the following is in addition to that information already known to your Administration and is provided for the exclusive use of DEA. This Agency will directly respond to the staff of Congressman Hughes' House Judiciary Subcommittee concerning their request for information on the Agency's contacts with these two individuals. 25X11 25X11 SECRET _ LDeciassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 SECRET > 25X11 Sincerely, : Js! Robert M. Gates Robert M. Gates Acting Director of Central Intelligence 2 SECRET | we, Lecliassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 ~@& V4 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied Pod Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 . * _ Ow = a U.S. Department of Justice en Drug Enforcement Administration Washington, D.C. 20537 SEP 9 1988 Honorable William H. Webster Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 Dear Judge Webster: During the course of the next several weeks, there will be hearings conducted by Congressman Hughes of New..Jersey. These hearings are expected to focus on a number.of issues which have not yet been fully defined. We do anticipate, however, that one area of inquiry will be the utilization of persons by law enforcement and/or the intelligence community who are significant drug traffickers or involved in other activities, such as the movement of weapons. I expect also that these hearings will focus on the issue of the interrelationship between drug law enforcement and national security concerns and whether or not the balance between the two is appropriate. The Noriega case, the Nicaraguan case involving the now deceased defendant/ informant Barry Seal, and the general area of Contra resupply are a few of the areas of inquiry. While I believe some of the motivation for these hearings is political, nonetheless, I expect them to be difficult and we must be as prepared as possible due to the complex nature of these cases and issues. Over the course of the past months, we have made informal inquiries of the Central Intelligence Agency as to any relationship that the agency may have had with certain of these individuals. we Deciassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 ” ay o; . . ‘ ‘ ~ 4 eo. con) Oi I believe that it is in the best interests of both organizations that we ascertain what relationships did exist with DEA/CIA and what impact that may or may not have on us at these hearings. It is, therefore, requested that you make a formal check of your records at CIA pertaining to the following individuals: ‘ STAT ; It is requested that you respond as soon as possible, as the hearings are due to commence as early as the week of September 12. Jack Short, Acting Chief of the Cannabis Investigations Section, is DEA's action officer and can be reached at 633-5628, Sincerely, C. Lawn nistrator — Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 ~@& V4 Next 4 Page(s) In Document Denied Pod Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001 500090002-9 fle ce ey os . ae ; ge iS) , : * Drug Enforcement Administration Washington, D.C. 20537 SEP 9 1¢g9 Honorable William H. Webster Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 Dear Judge Webster: In recent hearings the Administration was seriously criticized for not sufficiently coordinating our efforts and intelligence in the situation involving Panama's General Noriega. Congressman Hughesis conducting further hearings on this issue and the balance between law enforcement and national security interests. During hearings on July 12, 1988, it was necessary for me to testify that the CIA had not provided me any substantial intelligence on General Noriega's drug trafficking activities. A key point in the hearing was the assertion that former National Security Adviser John Poindexter had visited General Noriega in 1985 and had told him to "clean up his act." This message was reportedly delivered based on a CIA summary of Noriega‘’s drug related activities. I believe that it is in the interestsof both agencies that I be provided the opportunity to review the CIA holdings on any drug related intelligence on General Noriega. Further, a careful review. must be made to determine if Mr. Poindexter did in. fact have a report and did he actually discuss drug activity with the General as alleged. I am concerned of the potential impact of these records, if they exist, on the future trial of Noriega in the U.S. Declassified inPart - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13, CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 eineoe ee ye Our Chief Counsel, Dennis Hoffman, is DEA's action officer and can be reached at 633-1276. Sincerely ny an‘Lawn A ate acon _ Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 :CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9  pg neene *sh Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 a + Distribution: Original - Addressee w/att 1 - C/LA/DO w/att 1 - OCA w/att 1 - DDO w/att 1 - DDI w/att 1 - IG w/fatt 1 - EXDIR w/att (l="Executive Exe Registry 1 what iL } 17==DDCI ppcw/att “ 1 - DCL w/att 1 - General Counsel w/att 1 DGC/IO w/att 1 OGC Subject w/att 1 - OGC Chrono w/o att 1 ~ OGC Registry w/att 1 - DRE Signer w/att OGC/SAD (14 October 1988) STAT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 STAT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9 ~@& g Next 7 Page(s) In Document Denied g& Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/13 : CIA-RDP90G01353R001500090002-9