More than 70 Royal Marines sacked for taking drugs in last four years

DOZENS of Royal Marines have been sacked for taking drugs, defence bosses have revealed.

Statistics obtained by The Sun show 73 of Britain’s toughest troops have been discharged from the corps in the past four years.

The commandos have some of the most demanding training among the UK armed forces and deploy across the globe.

Maj Gen Julian Thompson, 87, who led 3 Commando Brigade in the 1982 Falklands War, told The Sun: “Anyone who fails the tests should be kicked out — it’s as simple as that.”

The unit was involved in last August’s evacuation flights from Kabul airport in Afghanistan as part of Operation Pitting.

New recruits have to pass arduous tests that culminate in a gruelling yomp across Dartmoor.

A defence source added: “These are some of the toughest men in the British military.

“They undergo some of the most arduous training anywhere in the world. The fact that some of them should take drugs is quite frankly shocking.”

It comes as official figures suggest drug use is rising in the British military.

In 2019, 660 service members were dismissed for failing drug tests, up from 580 in 2017.

Last February, ten soldiers from the Royal Horse Artillery were kicked out after a drug party at their barracks.

said: “The Naval Service has a zero tolerance drugs policy.”