80 Convicted in Military Designer Drug Probe
NORTH CAROLINA
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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 Tuesday.
It was one of the biggest drug investigations involving the military in recent years.
Officials said that a two-year investigation, code-named Operation Xterminator, was conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service office at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 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 where designer drugs were prevalent, according to a statement released by the Camp Lejeune public affairs office. The drugs involved were ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, Marine Corps officials said.
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