Britain’s Royal Navy has discharged nine service personnel who tested positive for drugs while they were assigned to a nuclear submarine.The nine were dismissed following compulsory drugs tests on HMS Vigilant —one of four British submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles. A royal navy statement says the service does “not tolerate drugs misuse by service […]
Britain’s Royal Navy has discharged nine service personnel who tested positive for drugs while they were assigned to a nuclear submarine.
The nine were dismissed following compulsory drugs tests on HMS Vigilant —one of four British submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles. A royal navy statement says the service does “not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service”, AP reported
The Daily Mail reported that the drug involved in this case was cocaine. The newspaper alleged the personnel took part in drug-fueled parties while docked in the United States to pick up nuclear warheads.
According to the Independent, the submarine has recently been embroiled in controversy over allegations of an onboard relationship between a male and female.
Earlier this month, the Daily Mirror reported that the UK Ministry of Defense was probing an “inappropriate relationship” between crew members, and that the captain of the vessel had been relieved of his duties pending the outcome.
A navy spokesman said: “We can confirm an investigation is under way, but it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. Any allegations of wrongdoing are taken very seriously and will be dealt with appropriately.”
There are strict royal navy rules about relationships on board vessels.
Women were barred from serving on submarines until 2011, when a report found that there was no basis in fears that carbon dioxide in the recycled air could damage female fertility.
In 2014, the first female commander of a frontline warship in the history of the royal navy left her vessel amid claims she had had an affair with a shipmate.
