By Peter Omopo
More than 20 soldiers serving with the British Army may be dismissed after testing positive for illegal drugs during a compulsory screening exercise.
The affected personnel are from the 32 Engineer Regiment, based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. According to reports, 23 soldiers failed drugs tests carried out shortly before Christmas, in what has been described as one of the largest drug-related incidents to hit the Army in recent years.
In a statement to the BBC, the British Army confirmed that a number of soldiers from the regiment had failed mandatory drugs tests and could face discharge once internal investigations are concluded.
“Substance abuse is unacceptable in the Army,” the statement said. “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.”
The Army added that, as the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Reports indicate that around 250 troops from the regiment were ordered to provide urine samples at Marne Barracks on December 20, with nearly one in 10 reportedly testing positive for cocaine.
The 32 Engineer Regiment provides close support combat engineering to the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, also known as the “Desert Rats,” which forms part of Nato’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.
Under British Army policy, personnel who fail drugs tests can expect to be discharged. The Army operates a three-tier approach to substance misuse, focusing on education, deterrence through testing, and disciplinary action when illegal drug use is detected.
