Defense Secretary William Cohen has ordered a military-wide security review following the arrests of 13 people suspected of trafficking military explosives. Six of the suspects are marines. The arrests yesterday were part of an ongoing 18-month investigation into the theft of military weapons including rocket launchers, machine guns, mines, mortars and grenades. Much of the ordnance was stolen from Camp Lejeune, the sprawling Marine base in eastern North Carolina, where five of the marines were arrested. Four marines were stationed there; the fifth was posted at nearby Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station. Federal undercover agents bought large quantities of weapons and ammunition during Operation Long Fuse, this according to William Perry, special agent in the FBI’s Charlotte office.
Military-Wide Security Review Ordered After Arrests of 13 Suspected of Trafficking Military Explosives
HeadlineOct 17, 1997