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Synthetic Pot Bust Nabs 49 Sailors Aboard Aircraft Carrier Used to Buried Osama bin Laden at Sea

usscarlvinson.jpg
Photo by Pete Niesen via Shutterstock

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If you wondered what the people who hastily dumped Osama bin Laden's body in the sea were smoking, you now have your answer: synthetic pot.

The Navy has busted 64 San Diego-based sailors connected to a synthetic pot ring — 49 of those sailors were aboard the USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier that was used to bury Osama bin Laden at sea.

The alleged ring included two distributors and a middle-man of the synthetic drug "spice."
Forty-six spice users were also busted. A release from the Navy says that it has already started booting out sailors — including distributors or users that might have already been on thin ice for prior drug use.

Spice is sort of like pot. It used to be legal but now distributors face consequences even more serious than those distributing old-fashioned pot.

Sailors from the USS Carl Vinson weren't the only ones nabbed in this bust. Ten sailors on the USS San Francisco and three sailors from floating dry dock Arco were disciplined for using spice. Two sailors on the USS San Francisco are being investigated for distributing spice. (The Navy also found other sailors using coke and meth.)

Using any kind of drug is a big no-no for sailors: "Our sailors must understand the dangers and consequences of using drugs — substance abuse risks the lives of shipmates and erodes readiness," said Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander, in a statement. "I need my Sailors to be ready for any tasking. Shipmates must watch out for shipmates and spread the word that this behavior is absolutely inconsistent with our Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Abusers will be caught."

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