MORE THAN 80 MARINES, SAILORS CONVICTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION

WASHINGTON - Authorities in North Carolina have seized $1.4 million worth
of narcotics and have convicted more than 80 Marines and sailors of using
or distributing designer drugs, officials said yesterday.

It was one of the biggest drug investigations involving the military in
recent years.

Officials said yesterday that a two-year investigation, code-named
Operation Xterminator, was conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative
Service office at Camp Lejeune, N.C., outside of Jacksonville, along with
state and local authorities.

The investigation began in February 2000 after Camp Lejeune officials were
alerted that a large number of service members were frequenting clubs in
Wilmington, N.C., where designer drugs were prevalent, according to a
statement released yesterday by the Camp Lejeune public affairs office.

The drugs were Ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, Marine officials
said. The operation ended June 19.

The investigation led to drug charges against 84 active-duty service
members. A Marine Corps official said 99 percent of those charged were
convicted and two cases are pending.

Of the 84 charged, 61 were accused of distributing drugs and 23 were
accused of using them.

An additional 99 civilians were charged by civilian authorities.

Officials provided no information on the sentences meted out to convicted
military members.