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Soldiers test positive for drugs Dismissal for drug test soldiers
(about 4 hours later)
Seventeen soldiers in one Army battalion have tested positive for drugs, the Ministry of Defence said. Seventeen soldiers will be dismissed from the Army after they tested positive for drugs.
The soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were tested after returning from a break in the Mexican resort of Cancun.The soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were tested after returning from a break in the Mexican resort of Cancun.
A Minstry of Defence (MoD) spokesman would not confirm reports that those who were positive had taken class A drugs, including heroin and cocaine. An Army spokeswoman said their Commanding Officer had applied for their discharge, which would happen in "the next few weeks".
It is understood the troops will now be disciplined and face being discharged. Defence chiefs would not confirm those involved had taken Class A drugs.
Drug testing The soldiers reportedly took heroin and cocaine.
The spokesman said: "Seventeen members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have provided positive samples following a compulsory drugs test at their unit. An Army spokeswoman said drug taking of any kind was not tolerated in the armed forces .
"Drugs use is incompatible with life in the armed forces and is not tolerated." A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence added: "Drug use is incompatible with life in the armed forces and is not tolerated.
However, he added: "Positive test results in the Army over the past four years average around 0.7% compared with over 7% in civilian work place drug testing programmes." "Positive test results in the Army over the past four years average around 0.7% compared with over 7% in civilian work place drug testing programmes."
The Argylls, the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, had been sent to Cancun after an exercise in the jungles of Belize lasting several weeks.The Argylls, the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, had been sent to Cancun after an exercise in the jungles of Belize lasting several weeks.
It is understood they were tested on their return.It is understood they were tested on their return.