NZ SOLDIERS FACE COURT MARTIAL OVER ALLEGED HASHISH USE

Six soldiers have been shipped out of Afghanistan back to New Zealand
to face drug charges at a court martial.

The New Zealand Defence Force said the six members from the Provincial
Reconstruction Team contingent in Afghanistan had returned to New
Zealand on remand for trial by court martial for alleged drug use.

In an in depth Listener investigation, due out tomorrow, Qantas award
winning journalist David Fisher reveals the six junior personnel are
alleged to have used the Class B drug hashish, at the PRT base in
Bamyan Province.

The Bamyan Province lies on a main route for drugs being trafficked
through the Hindu Kush mountain range and out of Afghanistan.

He also describes how Kiwi troops seized drug shipments and burnt them
outside their NZ army barracks, despite an unofficial policy to leave
the drug shipments alone.

NZ Army Land Component Commander Brigadier Dave Gawn said a thorough
investigation into the allegations resulted in the charges being laid.

"There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel
whether under instruction, training or on operations. Such behaviour
undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of
the more than 1200 NZDF personnel who have served in Bamyan since
2003," Brig Gawn said.

The six accused were flown back earlier this month under the guard of
five military police, who had been sent to Bamyan to investigate the
drug allegations.

The six will be disciplined if they are found to have used
drugs.

Disciplinary action might result in a fine, jail sentence or
dismissal.

The army said as the matter was sub judice it would make no further
comment.

The 107-strong reconstruction team is tasked with assisting in
security and reconstruction in Bamyan Province.

The NZDF has a low level of drug abuse. Only one percent test positive
in random drug tests.