ALBERTA MILITARY BASE ROCKED BY DRUG CHARGES

A dozen former and current members of the military have been charged
with a total of 70 drug-related offences, including the production of
hallucinogens, the Canadian Forces announced on Wednesday.

Those charged are or were stationed at CFB Wainwright, a military base
roughly 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. It is largely a training
base.

Three of the charged have already been released from the
military.

All of those charged are or were low-ranking privates, with the
exception of one corporal.

The charges range from production of a controlled substance to
possession to trafficking.

Former private David McKinnell and Pte. Matthew Wright were each
charged with one count of production of a controlled substance
contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act, as well as
multiple counts of trafficking and possession of controlled substances.

Former private Michael Masserey and Pte. Glen Morgan were also charged
with trafficking of a controlled substance.

The eight other current and former soldiers were charged with
possession of a controlled substance, and with controlled substance
use.

The production charges are connected to the manufacture of
dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, a hallucinogen. DMT is naturally occurring
in many plants, but can be produced synthetically. As a drug, it can
be snorted, smoked or injected. It induces a shorter high than other
drugs with similar effects, such as LSD.

The drugs involved include marijuana, hallucinogens, ecstasy and
cocaine.

These charges show "the continuous commitment of the Canadian Forces
Military Police to ensure a work environment free of drugs for CF
personnel," said Maj. Daniel Dandurand, the officer commanding the
Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, Western Region Detachment.

The charges will be passed on to the director of military
prosecutions, who will determine if courts martial will be held.

Earlier this year, the Canadian Forces announced the arrest of four
members in connection with the investigation, but those members were
released without charge.

Sgt. Lane Newton of the Wainwright RCMP has already said there is no
indication any of the alleged drug deals involved anyone outside CFB
Wainwright. w

Thus, the RCMP did not have jurisdiction to lead the investigation,
although it did assist.