The Royal Navy has fired nine sailors serving aboard a nuclear submarine after they tested positive for cocaine.
The dismissed sailors were serving on the HMS Vigilant which last month traveled to the US to pick up nuclear weapons, according to media reports.
While drug tests on Royal Navy submarines are compulsory and regular, reports indicated that the nine sailors took the drugs during HMS Vigilant’s trip to the US. The UK defense ministry noted that there was no evidence that sailors were under the influence during operations.
“We do not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service,” a Royal Navy spokesman told Reuters.
The reports of drug use come shortly after reports that the Royal Navy was investigating an “inappropriate relationship” aboard the same submarine. UK’s Daily Mirror earlier reported that the submarine’s commander, Commander Stuart Armstrong, was relieved of his duty last month while the incident was under investigation.