Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2007
Source: Daily Record (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111
Author: Janice Burns

ARMY TARGET DRUGS WHISTLEBLOWERS

Exclusive Probe to Halt Leaks

ARMY chiefs are trying to nail whistleblowers who exposed a Scots 
battalion's orgy of drugs, sex and booze in Mexico.

Soldiers have been warned to stop leaking stories to the Record after 
we revealed they snorted cocaine, had sex with prostitutes and 
guzzled tequila as they prepared to serve in Afghanistan.

Furious Army bosses also threatened to take mobile phones off the 
soldiers - nicknamed The Cancun Platoon.

And photos of the men boozed-up and naked have been removed from websites.

Despite being threatened by officers at the Argyll and Sutherland 
Highlanders' Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, the troops refuse to be gagged.

One said: "They are trying to put the fear of God into us but I take 
my hat off to the soldiers who spoke to the Record. People need to 
know what is going on and how bad it is.

"I am not saying everyone is taking drugs but it's out of control and 
not enough is being done by the Army to sort it out."

Another soldier said: "They were going to take our phones to check 
them but that would breach our human rights."

This month, we revealed 17 Argylls were being kicked out after 
failing drug tests.

Our stories sparked a furious reaction from serving solders in an 
Army internet chatroom.

One soldier insisted they were "very good ambassadors" for the forces 
in Cancun.

But another hit back: "You may be able to fool civvies... but most of 
this site know what soldiers get up to on the lash (booze, women, 
fighting and, in the Scots case, drugs)." 
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