Soldiers arrested over cocaine ring pulled from parade

IRISH GUARDS soldiers who were meant to march in Trooping the Colour have been withdrawn after being arrested in a suspected cocaine racket.

A defence source said the Royal Military Police (RMP) arrested the men, who range from sergeant to guardsman, at locations including Mons Barracks, in Aldershot, and military housing accommodation in Berkshire and Windsor.

They are alleged to have dealt cocaine and run a loan shark operation. Seven individuals were arrested, including a Coldstream Guards veteran.

It is understood that up to three of those arrested were meant to march in Trooping the Colour. They will be replaced by those trained as spares.

Currently, three of the men remain in custody, without charge, and are pending further inquiries. Others were interviewed and have been released, with investigations ongoing.

The arrests were made as part of an intelligence-led operation by the RMP, with assistance from civilian police forces. Lord Dannatt, the former head of the army, told The Daily Telegraph that drug misuse “has been an issue for the Armed Forces for a long time”.

An Army spokesman said:“the Army does not tolerate any type of illegal or fraudulent behaviour. As this is now the subject of an independent RMP investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further.”