The Defense Agency said Thursday it is considering additional drug testing for Self-Defense Forces troops in the wake of a series of drug scandals.
More than 200,000 Air, Ground and Maritime SDF personnel would be subject to the testing, according to a proposal in an interim report compiled and released by a Defense Agency panel tasked with preventing drug-related incidents, the panel said.
The panel will decide later on whether to make the test mandatory.
At present, SDF personnel are required to undergo a drug test only upon enlistment, a rule introduced in July 2002.
A total of nine SDF members have been arrested since July for allegedly possessing, using or dealing illegal drugs or growing cannabis. All of them joined the SDF before drug testing was introduced.
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