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U.S. soldier caught smuggling drugs

March 8, 2012 - 19:53 By Korea Herald
Prosecutors here have indicted a U.S. soldier without detention for bringing synthetic marijuana into the country, prosecutors said Thursday.

According to Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the U.S. Eighth Army sergeant first class was caught trying to ship in AM-2201, a synthetic cannabinoid.

The soldier, whose name was not disclosed, had ordered 50 grams of the drug online and shipped it into the country.

“I brought it in so I could use it,” said the soldier as quoted by prosecutors.

Officials are still investigating to see if the soldier had an accomplice.

The issue of synthetic cannabis and other THC substitutes have plagued the U.S. Army, prompting a memorandum from the U.S. Secretary of the Army to prohibit the use of Spice and other variations while on active duty.

Spice, a synthetic drug, remains legal in the U.S., while the Korea Food and Drug Administration classified the drug as illegal in 2009.

According to other news reports, the U.S. military investigated some 1,100 suspected users in 2011.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)