Fifteen soldiers based in Oxfordshire have tested positive for drugs, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The privates from the 23 Pioneer Regiment were caught by random drugs testing at their base in Bicester.
Samples are believed to have shown traces of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.
An MoD spokesman said: Fifteen members of the regiment have provided positive samples following testing as part of the Army's ongoing drugs testing programme.
A decision has not yet been taken on whether to discharge the soldiers but the spokesman said the Army operated a zero tolerance policy on drugs.
Since the drug testing programme began, just over 0.5 per cent of those tested have given positive results, the spokesman said.
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