A three-year Navy investigation has led to drug charges against 18 sailors on 10 nuclear vessels from Connecticut to Hawaii, including the Everett-based USS Abraham Lincoln, Navy officials said.
Charges stemmed from the alleged sale and use of Ecstasy, LSD, cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana, Navy officials told The Day of New London, Conn., for a story in its Thursday editions.
Lincoln officials were unavailable for comment Thursday night.
Nine of the sailors have been court-martialed, given prison sentences of up to 30 months and must forfeit up to $3,000 in pay. Two others have been kicked out of the Navy, three are awaiting court-martials and two are facing pretrial hearings.
All 18 sailors accused were trained to work on nuclear vessels. Some met during nuclear power training before being assigned to submarines and aircraft carriers, the newspaper reported. It was not clear when the arrests were made.
The probe led to charges against sailors on 10 ships — eight submarines and two aircraft carriers — as well as two shore commands. All the sailors were enlisted personnel, whose ranks ranged from seaman to petty officer 1st class.
The Navy said there was no evidence that any of the sailors had used drugs while on duty.
Lt. Phil Rosi, a spokesman for Submarine Group Two at the base in Groton, Conn., said a Naval Criminal Investigative Service probe uncovered the extent of the drug use.
"The Navy has a zero-tolerance policy on drug use," Rosi said. "Drug use is inconsistent with Navy core values, and all allegations of drug use by Navy personnel are fully investigated."
The inquiry, which began nearly three years ago, spread to ships from both coasts and as far away as Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Other ships involved include the USS Pittsburgh, USS Albuquerque, USS San Juan, USS Nimitz, USS Helena, USS Los Angeles, USS Nebraska and USS Florida.
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