Posted on 07/02/2002 6:55:02 PM PDT by RCW2001
J A C K S O N V I L L E, N.C., July 2 —
More than 80 active-duty Marines and sailors were identified as users and sellers of designer drugs during a two-year investigation, authorities said today.
More details of Operation Xterminator, headed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, will be released at a news conference Wednesday at Camp Lejeune.
Authorities said in a news release that 61 active-duty service members were identified as possible distributors and 23 as designer drug users. Military officials said some were brought to court-martial but did not say how many.
Million-Dollar Military Drug Operation
Special Agent Robin Knapp said the operation, which began in February 2000 and involved Onslow and New Hanover counties, targeted Marines and sailors using or distributing designer drugs such as Ecstasy.
Members of a task force, which included local and state authorities, conducted about 105 investigations over the course of the operation and seized illicit narcotics valued at more than $1.4 million.
Knapp said the investigation started when law enforcement agencies learned that a number of military service members from Camp Lejeune were at clubs in New Hanover County where Ecstasy was believed to be prevalent.
All these "new fangled" drugs.
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