Navy kicks out 80 sailors over failed drug tests
EIGHTY sailors were sacked by the Navy after testing positive for drugs last year – a quarter of them serving on nuclear submarines.
The Ministry of Defence figures – double the number for the previous year – suggest a spiralling drug problem among the naval service.
It comes after the Daily Mail revealed nine British servicemen had been thrown off a nuclear submarine at the centre of a sex probe after testing positive for cocaine while on duty.
Following the revelations, it is understood Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon ordered mandatory drugs tests across the submarine fleet. Figures obtained by Freedom of Information request show 18 submariners were sacked for drug use last year, double the number of the previous 12 months.
Those failing the tests – taken when a vessel comes into port during deployment – included sailors serving on five nuclear submarines. This included those serving on Trafalgar- class nuclear-powered hunter-killers used to track Russian submarines and transport members of the SBS on missions.
Others sacked served at a submarine school and the fleet’s topsecret sub base, known as the Faslane Flotilla headquarters.
In one of the worst scandals to From Saturday’s Mail hit the Navy, the Mail revealed on Saturday that nine servicemen were thrown off HMS Vigilant after cocaine was found in their blood.
While the submarine was docked in the US to pick up nuclear warheads, they are alleged to have held drug-fuelled parties – with one man having sex with a prostitute in a swimming pool.
A police report allegedly shows he paid £120 for sex then stole the money back from her purse.
It follows four officers on HMS Vigilant – now dubbed HMS Sex And Cocaine’ – being disciplined for having affairs with fellow crew.
That came to light after an alleged affair between its captain Commander Stuart Armstrong, 41, and Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards, 25. Both have been removed from duty on board.
Another serviceman on the ves- sel faces court martial after going AWOL and flying to the UK to see his girlfriend. Two more have quit in the wake of the scandals.
It means that one in ten of the 168-strong crew have been kicked out, quit, put under investigation or removed.
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, has been quizzed about the scandal by Sir Michael, who was said to be ‘furious’.
It is understood Sir Philip ordered mandatory drug tests to reassure Sir Michael it was an ‘isolated incident’. The Ministry of Defence is also investigating.