Fort Stewart soldier charged with cocaine trafficking

HINESVILLE, Ga. — A Fort Stewart soldier has been charged with cocaine trafficking as part of a drug investigation at the southeast Georgia Army post.

Pfc. Mario Figueroa remained jailed Wednesday following his arrest last week. Liberty County sheriff's Maj. Jeff Hein said the arrest followed a three-month investigation by military and civilian authorities.

Fort Stewart officials said in a news release that other soldiers were apprehended Tuesday on suspicion of drug crimes, but did not say how many or if they were being charged. Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson declined to comment further.

Hein said investigators questioned the soldiers and several were cleared of wrongdoing.

It was not immediately known if Figueroa had an attorney. In Georgia, someone can be charged with cocaine trafficking for possessing as little as 28 grams.

Maj. Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division and senior commander of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, said in a statement that the Army dedicates resources to the local law enforcement while working closely to "identify and suppress illegal drug use in our ranks."

"We will do everything we can to ensure our Army and communities are drug free," he said.