UK dismisses nine sailors for drug addiction

LONDON, Oct 28 (BBC): Nine sailors from a nuclear missile submarine have been dismissed from the Royal Navy after failing drug tests, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The servicemen had been serving aboard HMS Vigilant, which carries the Trident nuclear deterrent.

The Daily Mail reported that the drug they had taken was cocaine.

The Royal Navy said it did not tolerate drugs misuse, adding: "Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service."

Earlier this month, the submarine's captain was relieved of his command after an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with a member of his crew.

The Royal Navy said at the time that an investigation was ongoing and operations were not impacted.

Nuclear submarine captain relieved of command

HMS Vigilant is one of Britain's four Vanguard-class submarines which carry up to eight Trident missiles armed with nuclear warheads.