– After a private party, during off-duty leave earlier this summer, the Armed Forces were tipped off about the use of illegal drugs among conscripts. Five conscripts from His Majesty’s King’s Guard admitted the relationship, writes Brage Steinson Wiik-Hansen, spokesman for the Army, in an e-mail to news Press Contact in the Army, Brage Steinson Wiik-Hansen. Photo: Defense In the wake of this case, a further 25 conscripts from the department have come forward and admitted to using illegal drugs during leave in the time after they began their conscription, the spokesperson confirms. Operating heavy weapons Someone in the Garden whom news has spoken to expresses concern that soldiers are using drugs. – I don’t want the person operating a heavy weapon next to me to have been intoxicated, he says. It’s one of the things I’m passionate about, he says. He believes “the matter is alarming”. – I think this reflects drug use elsewhere in society, and that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg here, he says. Royal guard His Majesty’s King’s Guard consists of a staff and six companies. The best known is the 3rd Guards Company, which has a drill troop and a music troop. The department in the Army forms the bodyguard for the king and the royal house. Among other things, it is responsible for 24-hour security at the Castle. 17 May celebration outside the Castle with the King’s Guard lined up. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB The 30 conscripted soldiers will now be discharged. This means that they have been kicked out of the Armed Forces. – All personnel in the Armed Forces have a duty to notify if they discover or become aware of dealing with illegal drugs among employees or conscripts, and are obliged to notify this further, says Steinson Wiik-Hansen. He states that drug prevention work in the Armed Forces is carried out to safeguard the individual’s health, working environment, service and safety in order to maintain operational capability. – Are you going to test the whole company now? – As of now, there is no suspicion of the use of illegal drugs among others in the department. The preventive work against the use of illegal drugs on and off duty is, on the other hand, always an ongoing work in all the Armed Forces’ departments. – What do you think about soldiers handling weapons admitting to drug use? – There are no indications or suspicions of use in service. The use of illegal drugs on or off duty is not compatible with service in the Armed Forces, and is the reason why the people this applies to are now being dismissed, says Steinson Wiik-Hansen. This archive image from a raid at Sessvollmoen shows how soldiers are examined by drug dogs during raids. Photo: Defense Eirik Sjøhelle Eiksund is a national trust representative for the Defense. He tells news that there have been indications of an episode with guards that could have consequences. The national trust representatives support the Norwegian Armed Forces’ zero tolerance for drugs, says Sjøhelle Eiksund. Photo: The Armed Forces – We fully support the Armed Forces’ zero tolerance for substance abuse. At the same time, the shop steward scheme is concerned that discharged soldiers are looked after by professional personnel on the basis of drug and doping problems, he says.
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