Record number of IDF drug tests in 2007
Army conducted 12,400 narcotics tests over past year, charged 1,095 soldiers with soft drug use and 133 with use of hard drugs. Growing concern in military over possible infiltration of organized crime into ranks
The IDF Military Police conducted an unprecedented number of drug tests in 2001, with 11,000 samples collected as part of the army's random testing policy and an additional 1,400 samples gathered following pinpointed intelligence pointing to drug use.
A senior MP officer told Ynet that the intensive activity rate would continue this year as well, including a new policy allowing squads to randomly collect samples at IDF dormitories.
"The use of drugs if forbidden in the IDF, even in civilian surroundings and we do not differentiate between soft and hard narcotics," the officer said.
Colonel Meir Ohana, who heads the corps' Criminal Investigations Division said one of the chief goals for
2008 was to focus on any possible connections between IDF soldiers and organized crime.
"It's no secret that crime families have an interest in using soldiers, who have access to weapons and information. We are conducting several operations on numerous levels to try and get a better picture of the phenomenon and be able to pre-empt criminal activity," said Col. Ohana.
