Marines accused in designer drug probe

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Eighty-four Marines and 99 civilians have been accused of either distributing or using designer drugs following a two-year investigation, officials at the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, said Monday.

A total of 105 investigations were conducted during "Operation Xterminator," which began in February 2000 and involved the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Wilmington-New Hanover City-County Vice Narcotics Unit.

Almost $1.5 million worth of illicit narcotics have been seized in Operation Xterminator, the military officials said.

Base officials said they launched the investigations after they were informed that service members were frequenting clubs in the Wilmington, North Carolina, area, where the drugs were prevalent.