22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

SYDNEY, Jan 21: Australian soldiers may have sold army-issue guns to biker gangs in exchange for illicit drugs, the country's premier current affairs magazine said on Wednesday.

The Bulletin magazine, published in association with Newsweek, alleged that police in the Northern Territory had discovered links between soldiers at the Robertson Barracks in Darwin and an unnamed organised crime gang.

"But southern-based bikies trying to make supply inroads into northern Australia generally fit the picture," the article said. Robertson houses more than 3,000 of Australia's toughest soldiers, the country's most experienced vanguard troops having seen action in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The magazine cited an interview with the Northern Territory police commander George Owens in which he said the police and defence authorities were jointly investigating a drug problem at the base.

In October last year 97 soldiers were targeted for drug tests. Some 47 returned positive results for drugs including marijuana, speed, ecstasy and opiates.

Eleven admitted to having a drug habit and all must show cause to the army why they should not be discharged. "The objective of our operation was to identify any military personnel that were using, selling or supplying illegal drugs," Owens said.-AFP