SoCal Sailors Busted For Smoking 'Spice' Aboard Ship Used To Bury Bin Laden
SAN DIEGO (CBS) — The U.S. Navy has busted dozens of sailors stationed in the Southland for using illegal drugs aboard its ships — including the same boat used to capture one of America's most-hated enemies.
KNX 1070's Tom Reopelle reports over 60 sailors from three San Diego-based commands are under investigation for using synthetic drugs.
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One of those commands was the USS Carl Vinson, where Navy officials said nearly 50 sailors aboard the submarine and floating dry dock either sold, possessed or used the counterfeit marijuana called "Spice" along with other drugs.
"'Spice' is an illegal drug," said Capt. Greg Hicks, Navy 3rd Fleet in San Diego. "It's a drug like marijuana that inhibits and does some harmful things to our sailors, and we just can't have it in our Navy."
The USS Carl Vinson is the same Nimitz-class supercarrier from where Osama bin Laden was reportedly buried at sea back in June.
Hicks said any recreational drug use by sailors is a violation of the Navy's zero-tolerance policy.
"It's inconsistent with our Navy core values of honor, courage and commitment, and the use of illegal drugs just will not be tolerated," he said.
All sailors involved will be discharged from the Navy.
