Britain's Royal Navy has fired nine sailors serving on a nuclear-armed submarine after failing compulsory drug tests, the country's defense ministry said on Saturday.
The crew were from HMS Vigilant, one of four navy submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles.
"We do not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service," a Royal Navy spokesman said.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that the sailors had failed drugs tests while the submarine was docked in the United States to pick up nuclear warheads and undergo work, and the sailors had been accommodated in hotels on shore.
The daily reported that the drug involved in this case was cocaine.
A defense ministry spokesman declined to comment on the location of the incident but said: "There is no evidence to suggest any individual was under the influence while performing their duties."
The ministry also confirmed the submarine's commander had been relieved of his command pending investigation, but declined to give details. Previous reports said this was due to an earlier unrelated incident.
