British army found drug addiction in

The British Ministry of Defence announced that traces of cocaine were found in 23 soldiers of the 'Desert Rats' regiment following tests conducted after one soldier was arrested for drug possession. Senior command ordered the investigation five days before Christmas. During the probe, 23 soldiers tested positive for cocaine, with some attempting to justify it by saying they were 'bored'. This is the largest operation of its kind in the past five years; a similar investigation in the Yorkshire Regiment previously found 19 soldiers in violation. Over the past eight years, around 7,000 military personnel have been discharged for drug use. The operation has drawn public attention, sparking discussions about army morale issues.

Context

Between 2018 and 2023, several similar inspections were carried out in the British Armed Forces, uncovering violations by 19 service members in the Yorkshire Regiment.