US Navy probing alleged drug abuse by sailors in Japan
The US Navy has said it was probing sailors at a base in Japan over alleged drug use and vowed no tolerance for any misconduct.
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating Yokosuka-based sailors for alleged drug use and distribution," the navy’s 7th Fleet said Saturday, referring to its home base southwest of Tokyo.
"The Navy has zero tolerance for drug abuse and takes all allegations involving misconduct of our sailors, navy civilians and family members very seriously," it said in a statement.
It added the allegations were still under investigation and would not comment further.
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that at least a dozen sailors were being investigated on suspicion of selling, buying and using illegal drugs.
Some of them were serving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier whose home port is Yokosuka, the newspaper quoted navy officials as saying Friday.
The report also said the navy was probing whether American sailors were buying or selling drugs online or were distributing them to local Japanese residents.
The drug allegations comes at a time when the 7th Fleet has been hit by a string of accidents in the last year.
According to US Forces Japan, about 50,000 American troops are based in Japan, with half residing in Okinawa.
Anti-American sentiments have been specially high on Okinawa Prefecture.
Japanese locals complain about allegations of sexual abuse by the American soldiers, and are involved in a row with the Japanese government over the planned relocation of the US camp on the island.
A US base employee was recently arrested following the rape and murder of a local woman. News of the arrest prompted a wave of anti-US protests.
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