Military officials said that sixteen U.S. Marines were arrested Thursday on human smuggling and drug allegations at a base in Southern California.
The Marine Corps said in a statement Thursday that the Marines were arrested at Camp Pendleton, based on information gained from a previous human smuggling investigation. At least eight other Marines have also been questioned about their involvement in alleged drug offenses.
The drug charges are unrelated to moving drugs across the southern border. During the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation into the smuggling, investigators found a number of Marines involved with illegal drugs.
The U.S. Marine Corps could not immediately be reached for further information.
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