A “handful” of Portuguese peacekeepers may have been involved in smuggling gold, diamonds and drugs out of the Central African Republic (CAR).

The soldiers, part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, are alleged to have been part of a crime ring that used military planes to transport the illicit goods to Portugal, the office of the Portuguese Armed Forces Chief of Staff said in a statement.

More than 300 inspectors raided nearly 100 properties in Portugal as part of the investigation, police said on Monday.

Officers said the “criminal network” had international links and 10 people have been arrested so far – some of them ex-military.

They are likely to appear in court this week.

The Portuguese military said officials became aware of the alleged crime ring in December 2019, along with suspicions that some of its soldiers may have been used as couriers.

More stringent checks have been put in place for soldiers returning to Portugal after peacekeeping missions.

At least 78 people killed as truck flips in the Central African Republic

Clashes kill 100 in Central African Republic as ceasefire crumbles

In a statement, military officials said: “The armed forces totally repudiate these behaviours which contradict the values ​​of the military institution.”

Portugal’s defence minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said: “Everything suggests that these were activities undertaken on their own initiative by a handful of soldiers and not something systemic.”

Hundreds of Portuguese soldiers have been deployed in the CAR over the past few years, as the country struggles with violence that worsened after a coalition of rebels seized power in 2013.

It is rich in gold and diamonds but it is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

Related posts:

Russia using old Putin tactic to justify military presence near the Ukrainian border Myanmar egg strike to an empty St Peter’s Square: How the world is spending Easter More than 1,800 prisoners escape after gunmen attack Nigeria jail Women in naked photoshoot on Dubai balcony to be deported along with photographer ‘The Taliban will get me’: Afghan interpreters who worked with British troops plead for help Lionel Messi agrees to join Paris Saint-Germain on two-year contract after leaving Barcelona Body of missing British hiker Esther Dingley and her equipment found together in Pyrenees Toddler found drinking milk in hut after going missing for three days in Thailand Russia completes controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline North Korea files third set of missiles in retaliation to US sanctions Credit Suisse chairman resigns after bank probe finds he breached COVID-19 rules ‘A woman who made a difference’: Funeral held for murdered primary school teacher Ashling Murphy