Zero tolerance for soldiers' drug use
by PHIL HAMILTON - The Press | Saturday, 29 March 2008

Six New Zealand soldiers have been sent home from Afghanistan to face a court-martial for allegedly smoking hashish at their base.

The six solders, who are part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamiyan province, are from 1 Battalion, based at the Linton army camp in Manawatu.

The junior personnel, none of whom is ranked higher than corporal, are alleged to have used the Class B drug at the PRT base. The alleged incident happened more than a month ago.

The New Zealand Army land component commander, Brigadier Dave Gawn, said an investigation into the allegations was conducted, resulting in the six being remanded for court-martial.

"There is no tolerance for the use of drugs by service personnel whether under instruction, training or on operations," he said.

"Such behaviour undermines the security, stability and reconstruction achievements of the more than 1200 NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) personnel who have served in Bamiyan since 2003."

The six soldiers - four men and two women - will be disciplined if they are found to have used drugs, with punishment ranging from a fine to a period in the Services Correction Facility or dismissal from the Defence Force.

A soldier who served with the PRT but wished to remain anonymous said soldiers had been sent home before from the same base, but not for drug use.

"The New Zealand base is dry and some soldiers ... were sent home for alcohol incidents," he said.

There was zero tolerance to drug use. He saw no evidence of any drug use during his six-month rotation in Afghanistan.

There was a black market for alcohol, with a dozen beer selling for about $50 and whisky about $80.

Defence Force spokesman Captain Zac Prendergast confirmed that some soldiers had been sent home for matters relating to alcohol in 2006.

The court-martial for the six soldiers was not likely to be held until August, and the soldiers, who were now on leave, would continue normal duties in New Zealand until then.

They were sent home a month early with the rest of their rotation, some of whom will give evidence in the court-martial, he said.

Possession of hashish in New Zealand is punishable with a maximum sentence of three months jail.