Eleven soldiers from the Highlanders battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland are facing dismissal after testing positive for drugs during a deployment to Dhekelia, Cyprus. The troops, found to have cocaine and cannabis in their systems, are believed by some colleagues to have deliberately failed the tests as a means to exit service early amid low morale linked to funding cuts.

Typically, soldiers who resign must serve a 12-month notice period. However, failing a compulsory drug test can lead to discharge within 14 days, offering a reportedly quicker route out of the military. Following concerns about drug use, military officials imposed a lockdown on the Dhekelia base and conducted mandatory testing.

An anonymous insider commented that the willingness of personnel to risk expulsion by using illicit substances reflects broader morale challenges within the unit. The army maintains a firm zero-tolerance policy regarding drug use among its members.

Additionally, sources indicated that three more soldiers had voluntarily admitted to drug use in connection with the testing. The situation underscores ongoing difficulties faced by military units contending with resource constraints and retention issues during overseas deployments.