{"id":17973,"date":"2019-10-21T17:17:52","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T17:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:01:06","slug":"report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/","title":{"rendered":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Military prosecutors sent two San Diego-based petty officers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/01\/30\/two-essex-sailors-plead-guilty-to-using-and-selling-a-bunch-of-drugs\/\" target=\"_blank\">to the brig<\/a> in January for using and dealing a boatload of drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But while the extent of their illicit moonlighting remained unclear at the time, an internal probe obtained by Navy Times reveals \u201ca considerable number\u201d of active-duty sailors and Marines relied on the drug-dealing duo for cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD and MDMA, a mood-altering substance better known by street names <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/publications\/drugfacts\/mdma-ecstasymolly\" target=_blank>Ecstasy, Extasy or Molly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least 45 sailors stationed in San Diego County were suspected of having bought drugs from Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Casey T. Balausky and Interior Communications Specialist 2nd Class Tyler D. Farley before an undercover sting last year sparked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/01\/30\/two-essex-sailors-plead-guilty-to-using-and-selling-a-bunch-of-drugs\/\" target=\"_blank\">guilty pleas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A military judge sentenced Balausky to 34 months in the brig and a bad conduct discharge, while Farley received two years behind bars, a $250 fine and a bad conduct discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/01\/30\/two-essex-sailors-plead-guilty-to-using-and-selling-a-bunch-of-drugs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex.jpg_6ff595.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Two Essex sailors plead guilty to using and selling a bunch of drugs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The two were sentenced earlier this month in a Naval Base San Diego courtroom<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assigned to the amphibious assault ship <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/local\/lhd2\/\" target=_blank>Essex<\/a>, Balausky and Farley sold drugs to at least 27 shipmates in 2017 and 2018, according to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obtained by Navy Times through a Freedom of Information Act request, the heavily redacted file shows NCIS agents identified military customers based on text messages downloaded from the suspects\u2019 cell phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the dealers even compiled a list of sailors \u2014 and three Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton \u2014 who bought the drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One lance corporal sent him a picture of a line of cocaine and wrote, \u201cright way to get ready for work,\u201d the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pay grades of the Essex sailors implicated for using or possessing drugs range from seamen to petty officers first class \u2014 although one sailor\u2019s grade was redacted in the released report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elsewhere on the San Diego waterfront, three sailors from the guided-missile cruiser <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/cg70\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>Lake Erie<\/a> were implicated, as were a trio from the amphibious transport dock ship <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/lpd22\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>San Diego<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four sailors assigned to the landing ship dock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/lsd49\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>Harpers Ferry<\/a> allegedly bought drugs. So did one sailor each from the amphibious transport docks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surflant\/lpd24\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>Arlington<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/lpd26\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>John P. Murtha<\/a>, the destroyers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/ddg73\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>Decatur<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/ddg60\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=_blank>Paul Hamilton<\/a> and the cruiser <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/CG63\/Pages\/Ourship.aspx\" target=_blank>Cowpens<\/a>, according to the NCIS report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A petty officer second class from the destroyer Milius was labeled as \u201cCid guy\u201d in one of the dealers\u2019 phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second class stationed with the Fleet Training Center in San Diego bought cocaine and acid from one of the dealers on base, while another from Logistics Group Western Pacific purchased \u201cLSD and shrooms several times,\u201d agents wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three sailors from the Navy\u2019s Inactive Ready Reserve also are listed as having actively done business with Balausky or Farley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4424\" height=\"3160\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg 4424w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,214 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,549 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,731 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1097 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-2.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1463 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4424px) 100vw, 4424px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sailors and Marines manned the rails of the amphibious assault ship Essex as it pulled into Pearl Harbor last year. (Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One April 2018 text thread obtained by NCIS agents shows one of the dealers asking another sailor about taking \u201csome trippy boys tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnly if I don\u2019t have to work tomorrow,\u201d the unidentified sailor replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrippy boys is believed to be slang for LSD,\u201d the NCIS agent noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also texted about a future hike of nearby Poway\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/hikingguy.com\/hiking-trails\/hiking-san-diego\/potato-chip-rock-hike-san-diego\/\" target=\"_blank\">Potato Chip Rock trail<\/a>, and one of the dealers later told agents he tripped on shrooms during the outing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several sailors denied buying drugs until they were presented with their texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One sailor interrogated last year was \u201cvisibly nervous\u201d and began farting during his interview with NCIS agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The sailor) yawned repeatedly, interrupted (the agent) to excuse himself for having flatulence, and was physically shaking,\u201d the agent wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cowpens sailor initially denied discussing the purchase of a pound of shrooms from one of the dealers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter being shown text messages between his phone and (one of the dealers),\u201d the sailor \u201cinsisted someone else must have taken his phone and sent those messages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That sailor eventually copped to the text messages and said he\u2019d used mushrooms, cocaine, LSD and MDMA several times during the previous 18 months, according to the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another sailor interviewed in August 2018 told agents he assumed he was being interviewed \u201cregarding an ongoing sexual assault case in which he is the suspect,\u201d according to the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He allegedly confessed to buying LSD-laced Sour Patch Kids candy from the dealers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other California-based sailors have been charged this year with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/04\/26\/air-station-sailors-facing-lsd-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\">LSD sales involving the gummy candies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/04\/26\/air-station-sailors-facing-lsd-charges\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635666740345318729-nav-lemoore-6jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Air station sailors facing LSD charges<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Three junior sailors at a California Navy base were accused of conspiracy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most Essex sailors agents tried to interview declined to provide a statement after being read their rights, according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cInformation pertaining to the use of various sailors and active duty USMC will be provided independently to those commands for action,\u201d an agent wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But whether any sailors \u2014 other than the convicted drug dealers \u2014 were disciplined remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It appears as if NCIS agents alerted the Essex\u2019s commanding officer about the probe \u201cand a way forward for this case,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Feb. 12, NCIS agents also briefed his executive officer about the cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The XO indicated the command wouldn\u2019t pursue criminal charges against sailors who bought the narcotics and \u201cno longer requested NCIS obtain statements from the remaining sailors regarding the suspected violations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an update to the report the next day, agents wrote that the ship\u2019s CO and a Navy attorney \u201creported the command would decline to prefer criminal charges against the sailors identified in the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While his name is redacted in the report released to Navy Times, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/lhd2\/Pages\/bio1-10July2018-1October2019.aspx\" target=_blank>Capt. Brian T. Mutty<\/a> commanded the Essex from July 2018 to this month, according to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/surfor\/lhd2\/Pages\/bio1-10July2018-1October2019.aspx\" target=_blank>command biography<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/07\/26\/prosecutors-minesweeper-drug-dealer-nabbed-in-acid-ecstacy-plot\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Van-Dijk_Daniel1.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Prosecutors:  Minesweeper drug dealer nabbed in acid, ecstasy plot<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">If found guilty on a single charge of wrongful possession with the intent to distribute, he faces a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and up to 15 years behind bars.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Noting that the alleged drug sales seemed to span the San Diego waterfront and weren\u2019t confined to the Essex, Navy Times asked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/local\/cnsp\/\" target=_blank>Naval Surface Forces<\/a> officials whether this case suggested larger problems involving narcotics abuse in California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While spokesman Cmdr. Patrick Evans insisted the Navy retains a \u201czero tolerance drug policy and takes allegations of drug offenses seriously,&#8221; he declined to discuss deeper issues possibly raised by the probe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also didn\u2019t state whether sailors who allegedly bought drugs received administrative punishment from the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those determinations fall \u201cwithin the discretion of each Commanding Officer,&#8221; leaders who \u201cmust carefully review the nature and seriousness of the allegation, the information\/evidence gathered, the strength of the evidence gathered, as well as other factors &#8230; before deciding the appropriate manner to dispose of allegations of wrongdoing,\u201d Evans wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/09\/12\/junior-sailor-facing-charges-over-use-and-distribution-of-a-bevy-of-drugs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Riveracaban.jpg.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">LHD sailor charged with LSD crimes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The seaman will have his day in court this November.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":40371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":65,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home","middle-column"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"6":{"categories":["your-marine-corps","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-marine-corps"}}},"categories":[101,22,23,88,12,26,65],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3355],"class_list":["post-17973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-disaster","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-navy"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"T43MDSRDIBBVPM7SLLKFPL5LTM","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Geoff Ziezulewicz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1046,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/essex-1.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Disaster | Advertiser Safety\",\n\t                \"Home\",\n\t                \"Left Column\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Your Navy\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members - Navy Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/essex-1.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/essex-1.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/essex-1.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/21\\\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"News\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"news\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Your Navy\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/news\\\/your-navy\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"your-navy\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Navy Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members - Navy Times","description":"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members","og_description":"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/","og_site_name":"Navy Times","article_published_time":"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00","author":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Geoff Ziezulewicz","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members","datePublished":"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/"},"wordCount":1046,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-1.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Disaster | Advertiser Safety","Home","Left Column","News","Newsletters","Your Navy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/","name":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members - Navy Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-1.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2019-10-21T17:17:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T19:01:06+00:00","description":"The sailors bought cocaine, LSD and other drugs from two petty officers moonlighting as drug dealers.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-1.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-1.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/21\/report-drug-rings-tentacles-reached-at-least-48-service-members\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/","ad_zone":"news"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your Navy","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/","ad_zone":"your-navy"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"NCIS: Drug ring\u2019s tentacles reached at least 48 service members"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","name":"Navy Times","description":"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization","name":"Navy Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","caption":"Navy Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Navy Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/essex-1.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17973"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101547,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17973\/revisions\/101547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17973"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=17973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}