Drug charges laid against military member in Halifax

NEWS RELEASE

Drug charges laid against military member in Halifax

August 10, 2016 – Ottawa

On August 5, 2016, the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) laid charges under the National Defence Act against Leading Seaman Marshall Smith of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Athabaskan.

The alleged offences relate to suspected controlled substances found in the vehicle of the accused during a routine security check at the entrance of Stadacona, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax, on May 5, 2016, as well as the improper storage of a shotgun discovered the following day at his residence.

The CFNIS charged Leading Seaman Smith with:

• one count of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act, pursuant to section 5(2) of the Controlled Substances Act; and
• one count of Unsafe Storage of Firearm contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act, pursuant to section 86(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

QUOTES

“The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service National Drug Enforcement Team is assigned an important role in the eradication of drug use within the Canadian Armed Forces. These charges reflect our ongoing commitment to fully investigate drug offences and to help ensure a drug-free environment within the Canadian Armed Forces.”
– Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Bolduc, Commanding Officer, Canadian Forces National Investigation Service

QUICK FACTS

• The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is a unit within the independent Canadian Forces Military Police Group whose mandate is to investigate serious and sensitive matters in relation to Department of National Defence (DND) property, DND employees and Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving in Canada and around the world.
• The Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Forces Military Police take all allegations of drug offences by Canadian Armed Forces personnel seriously and investigate to determine the facts, analyze the evidence, and if warranted, lay appropriate charges.