1.
GV Tour boats on river
0.06

2.
SV Tourist soldier takes pictures from boat
0.11

3.
SV Thai women in boats along river bank
0.13

4.
SV Tourists coming off boat.
0.21

5.
GV & SV Night clubs at night in Bangkok (EXTERIORS) (5 shots)
0.35

6.
SV Tourist soldiers leaving taxi (2 shots)
0.46

7.
SV PAN Military policeman patrols area at night
0.53

8.
SV People outside American Star Bar (2 shots)
1.02

9.
SV INT People dancing (3 shots)
1.20

10.
SV People sit at table drinking
1.22

11.
SV People dancing
1.30

12.
SCU Nigh club owner being interviewed
1.36

13.
SCU Ditto (SOUND)
1.54


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 12: REPORTER: "What, what do you think will come of this whole thing? How do you think it will work out for you?"



CLUB OWNER: "What do you mean, this accusations that people are making against me?"



REPORTER: "Yes."



CLUB OWNER: "If they are liable, I think someone is going to get sued."



REPORTER: "You're going to try to sue for libel?"



CLUB OWNER: "That's right."




Initials BB/2156 JL/PN/BB/2223


N.B. There's natural sound throughout, including a brief interview with the night club owner alleged to be connected with a heroin ring.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Recently there has been a great deal of controversy over the problem of drug taking by American servicemen in South Vietnam. U.S. officials there have taken several steps to try and cut down what appears to be a fast-rising incidence of heroin addiction.

American soldiers in Vietnam, however, can also find a supply for their drug habit outside of the country. Each servicemen is entitled to periodic leave for rest and relaxation. Many of them choose Bangkok, Thailand because of the heroin that can be easily purchased there.

One bar in Bangkok, run by an ex-soldier from the U.S. Army, is alleged to be headquarters for an American heroin, ring, but officials have been unable to prove the changes.

U.S. officials say that they will search all servicemen, returning to Vietnam from Thailand, for possible possession of heroin. They may also begin medical tests on the soldiers to determine if they are addicts. Such tests are already being given to servicemen returning to the United States, following their tour of duty in Vietnam.

SYNOPSIS: Bangkok, Thailand, has always been a popular place for American servicemen on leave from the Vietnam war. Each man is allowed ten days "R" and "R"--Rest and recreation leave. And four-thousand American soldiers come here every month.

Many come to take advantage of a side of Bangkok that is not advertised in the brochures--a mile long row of gaudy bars, restaurant and massage parlours.

United States' officials admit the almost any taxi cab driver on the strip can find heroin for the American soldiers that are addicts. And hundreds of sales are probably made each week.

Although military police regularly patrol the area, only ten American servicemen have been arrested this year for possession of heroin.

One place on the strip the American and Thai authorities watch closely, is Jack's American Style Bar. The suspicions about Jack's were revealed in a recent report by two United States' Congressmen. According to the report, U.S. agents believe the bar is the headquarters for an American heroic ring. But so far the American agents have been unable to prove anything.

The report implies the bar's owners have paid off high ranking Thai officials to stay in business. The principal owner, forty-five year old ex-soldier Herman Jackson, maintains his innocence.