Drug Was Found On City-link Navy Ship Options

[Joolz]

The discovery of the drug Ecstasy on HMS Gloucester has been revealed in new figures.

But the statistics suggest that cocaine is increasingly becoming the illicit drug of choice in the Royal Navy. The figures - revealed in a parliamentary answer to a South West MP - reveal positive tests for what was once seen as a high-society drug are as frequent in the Navy as those for cannabis.

HMS Gloucester is one of 14 surface ships to yield positive drug tests. Ecstasy was found on board the vessel last year.

Defence Minister Ivor Caplin, in an answer to Westbury MP Dr Ian Murrison, revealed there had been 23 positive tests for cocaine and 23 for cannabis in the Royal Navy.

Amphetamines were discovered on four occasions and Ecstasy on 15.

The class A drug heroin was discovered once.

In 2003, cocaine was discovered on one occasion at HMS Drake in Plymouth where there was also one cannabis bust.

Cannabis was discovered twice at both HMS Raleigh and the Royal Marine barracks in Stonehouse. Cocaine and Ecstasy were found at Plymouth-based 42 Commando.

Drugs were also found on 14 warships and two submarines. Cocaine was discovered on four occasions on HMS Cardiff, while cannabis, Ecstasy and cocaine were all found on a single occasion on HMS Exeter.

Mr Caplin said positive results related to substances detected and "not necessarily the number of personnel" found with the drugs.

As well as HMS Gloucester, Cardiff and Exeter, illegal drugs were found on HMS Argyle, HMS Atherstone, HMS Brecon, HMS Enterprise, HMS Glasgow, HMS Invincible, HMS Marlborough, HMS Richmond, HMS Southampton, HMS Westminster and HMS York.

Cannabis was found on the submarine HMS Sceptre while cocaine was detected on HMS Vigilant.

The cocaine culture has also spread to training establishments. The drug was found at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Cannabis was found on one occasion at the Royal Marine training centre at Lympstone, near Exeter.