CANNABIS SEIZED ON NAVY DESTROYER

TWO kilograms of cannabis has been discovered on a Royal Navy destroyer
returning from a mission to combat drug-running in the West Indies.

The haul, worth UKP4,000 was found by a nightwatchman. Yesterday police
boarded HMS Newcastle, which was returning from a six-month tour of duty.
No one has been arrested.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed last night that an investigation
was under way and that any serviceman caught with drugs faced dismissal.

It is believed that the Royal Navy police on board have taken fingerprints
from all 253 crewmen, including the captain. HMS Newcastle was back in
Portsmouth last night.

Bombardier Kevin Jones and James Bull, a former gunner, have been found
guilty of conspiracy to import drugs with a street value estimated at about
UKP1.5 million. Jones, a soldier with the 39th Regiment of the Royal
Artillery based in Abermarle, outside Newcastle upon Tyne, and Bull, once
attached to the same regiment, were convicted unanimously by a jury at
Liverpool Crown Court. Lance Bombardier Jason Foster, 25, of Wigan, was
cleared of conspiracy to import Class A and Class B drugs. Six other men
have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the smuggling ring.

Jones and Bull are to be sentenced on Thursday.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)