Airmen admit to drug use

[boulder]

By Duncan Macfarlane

17oct03

 

SIX RAAF servicemen have been placed on probation after admitting to possessing and using drugs at the Amberley airforce base in Queensland.

 

The details were confirmed last night by the head of the Amberley Air Defence Wing, Air Commodore Stewart Cameron, who said investigations were over.

 

He said he did not know whether drug abuse at Amberley was linked to police raids at other military bases in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

 

The airmen had not been sacked under the Australian Defence Force's zero tolerance drugs policy because they had come forward during the internal investigation, he said.

 

"We had some people step forward, voluntarily, so, yes, they've done the right thing," he said.

 

"I'd make the point that we are very much a values-based organisation and under that process these guys came forward.

 

"We had three for cannabis, two for amphetamines, and one for steroids, but no multiple hits."

 

Air Commodore Cameron said the men had been given an administrative warning that put them on a "short-rope for a year".

 

"Any infraction during that period can lead to a discharge," he said.

 

Subsequent drug tests proved the men had not reoffended, he said.

 

Drug abuse at Amberley has come to light because of accusations by Leading Aircraftman Nathan Moore, 23, who claimed a major drug syndicate was operating in the defence force.

 

Air Commodore Cameron said the investigation followed raids by Queensland police on houses in the Ipswich area.

 

The raids, which are believed to have followed tip-offs from Mr Moore, resulted in drug charges against two non-commissioned officers.

 

source....The Advertiser