Pubdate: Sun, 24 Sep 2006
Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/405
Author: Nicholas Christian
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

BRITISH TROOPS SUSPECTED OF 'GUNS FOR COCAINE' TRADE

BRITISH soldiers are being investigated for smuggling guns out of 
Iraq and allegedly exchanging them for cocaine in illicit black market deals.

Security officials have confirmed that soldiers from the third 
battalion the Yorkshire Regiment are at the centre of a criminal 
probe by the Royal Military Police, who are investigating a "guns for 
drugs" network.

According to a newspaper report, the alleged illegal deals are the 
latest blow to the British military, coming in the wake of a week 
when a corporal from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment admitted he had 
committed a war crime against an Iraqi civilian.

Despite being against the rules, drug use is known to be on the 
increase in the UK armed forces. But this is the first time that 
military police have come across evidence that stolen weapons are 
being used to pay for them.

One of the first soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment to have been 
arrested is alleged to have bought drugs by trading handguns, 
including Glock pistols smuggled from Iraq to Germany on at least six 
occasions. Security sources claimed some of the weapons had been 
exchanged for about 50 grams of cocaine with a street value of about 
UKP2,500. It is alleged that the drugs were then sold to other UK 
soldiers serving in Iraq.

Last night, it was unclear whether the traded weapons were British 
Army issue or were seized from Iraqi soldiers or police or even 
insurgent groups. The Ministry of Defence fears that the soldiers may 
have been doing business with members of organised crime syndicates 
in Germany. The unit involved in the alleged trade has a base north of Hanover.

According to the newspaper report, a security official was quoted as 
saying: "Who did the guns go to? And what purpose did they want guns 
for? Did they take them back to the UK and sell them on? Are they in 
the hands of Yardies?"

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a criminal investigation had 
been carried out by the Royal Military Police into the "unlawful 
possession" of weapons by soldiers belonging to the battalion.

The spokeswoman said: "The Army Prosecuting Authority is currently 
considering the case. We cannot comment further until the outcome of the case."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman