British soldiers face dismissal over failed drugs tests

More than 20 soldiers from the British Army could be sacked after testing positive for drugs.

According to the Sun, which first reported the story, 23 personnel from 32 Engineer Regiment based in Catterick, North Yorkshire, were reportedly caught in a sting just before Christmas. The newspaper described it as the “biggest drugs bust” to hit the Army.

The British Army said the soldiers may be discharged once investigations have concluded.

“Substance abuse is unacceptable in the Army,” it said in a statement to the BBC.

“We robustly enforce a zero-tolerance policy to drug use by all those who serve and provide an education programme to inform all personnel of the dangers and consequences of substance misuse.

“A number of soldiers from 32 Engineer Regiment recently failed a compulsory drugs test.

“As the matter is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The regiment provides close support combat engineering to 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, known as the “Desert Rats”, which is part of Nato’s “Very High Readiness” task force.

According to the Sun, around 250 troops from the regiment were ordered to provide urine samples at Marne Barracks on 20 December.

Almost one in 10 of those ordered to do so tested positive for cocaine, the Sun said.

On its website the British Army says that any soldiers or personnel who fail a drugs test can expect to be discharged from the service.

The Army has a three-tiered approach for substance misuse which includes educating soldiers, deterring through testing and taking disciplinary action when “any service person is found to have used illegal substances”.