84 MARINES, SAILORS CAUGHT IN DRUG OPERATION

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

It was one of the biggest drug investigations involving the military in
recent years. Although narcotics cases in the military are not rare, they
usually involve smaller numbers of people. A recent drug scandal at the Air
Force Academy, for example, implicated 38 cadets.

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 involved were ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, Marine
Corps officials said.

The operation included 105 investigations and ended June 19.

Officials said more details would be released at a news conference today at
Camp Lejeune.

The investigation led to drug charges against 84 active-duty service
members. A Marine Corps official said 99 percent of those charged were
convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and two cases are
still 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 punishments meted out to the
convicted military members.

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the maximum penalty for
wrongful distribution of drugs is confinement for 15 years, dishonorable
discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. For wrongful use of
drugs, the maximum punishment is confinement for five years, dishonorable
discharge and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

It was not clear yesterday whether the Marine Corps was planning more steps
against use of illicit drugs. In December, well after Operation Xterminator
was under way, the Marine Corps established a random computerized system to
standardize urinalysis throughout the service.