Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jul 2002 Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC) Copyright: 2002 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.journalnow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/504 Note: The Journal does not publish letters from writers outside its daily home delivery circulation area. Author: Associated Press 80 SAILORS, MARINES IN N.C. CONVICTED 2-year Drug Inquiry Done By Navy, State And Local Authorities Authorities in North Carolina have seized $1.4 million worth of narcotics and have convicted more than 80 Marines and sailors of using or distributing designer drugs, officials said yesterday. It was one of the biggest drug investigations involving the military in recent years. Although narcotics cases in the military are not rare, they usually involve smaller numbers of people. A recent drug scandal at the Air Force Academy, for example, implicated 38 cadets. Officials said that a two-year investigation, code-named Operation Xterminator, was conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service office at Camp Lejeune, N.C., outside of Jacksonville, along with state and local authorities. The investigation began in February 2000 after Camp Lejeune officials were alerted that a large number of service members were frequenting clubs in Wilmington, N.C., where designer drugs were prevalent, according to a statement released by the Camp Lejeune public affairs office. The drugs involved were Ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, Marine Corps officials said. The operation included 105 separate investigations and ended June 19. Officials said that more details would be released at a news conference today at Camp Lejeune. The investigation led to drug charges against 84 active-duty service members. A Marine Corps official said that 99 percent of those charged were convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and two cases are pending. Of the 84 charged, 61 were accused of distributing drugs and 23 were accused of using them. An additional 99 civilians were charged by civilian authorities. Officials provided no information on the sentences meted out to convicted military members. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the maximum punishment for wrongful distribution of drugs is confinement for 15 years, dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. For wrongful use of drugs, the maximum punishment is confinement for five years, dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. Marine Corps officials said that though they are concerned by any illicit drug use, the 84 service members charged in the investigation represent only 0.001 percent of the 50,000 to 60,000 Marines and sailors who served in the Camp Lejeune area during the time of the investigation. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel