A source at the 1st Battalion Irish Guards’ base, Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, said authorities ‘came in like the DEA, kicking down doors’.
The source added: ‘There was no warning. We were told they had been planning the operation for months It wasn’t just the barracks. They searched the soldiers’ homes off base. It’s all come as a huge shock.’
An Army spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘As part of a planned operation the Royal Military Police arrested six Irish Guards soldiers and a Coldstream Guardsman veteran from across the UK on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs and money lending and laundering offences.
‘The Army does not tolerate any type of illegal or fraudulent behaviour. As this is now the subject of an independent Royal Military Police investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further.’
None of the soldiers under investigation will participate in planned Queen’s Platinum Jubilee parades.
Two of the suspects were held by Red Cap Royal Military Police, who were said to have investigated for several months.
The remaining five suspects were released on bail.
MailOnline understands that the suspects will not be joining the Queen’s official birthday parade.
A source at the 1st Battalion Irish Guards’ base, Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, said authorities ‘came in like the DEA, kicking down doors’.
The source added: ‘There was no warning. We were told they had been planning the operation for months It wasn’t just the barracks. They searched the soldiers’ homes off base. It’s all come as a huge shock.’
An Army spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘As part of a planned operation the Royal Military Police arrested six Irish Guards soldiers and a Coldstream Guardsman veteran from across the UK on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs and money lending and laundering offences.
‘The Army does not tolerate any type of illegal or fraudulent behaviour. As this is now the subject of an independent Royal Military Police investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further.’
None of the soldiers under investigation will participate in planned Queen’s Platinum Jubilee parades.