November 8, 2021–Over 300 Portuguese police and military officers are investigating reports that elite Portuguese troops taking part in a UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic may have engaged in the illegal trafficking of diamonds, gold, and drugs.
Officers issued 10 arrest warrants and raided properties in Lisbon, Funchal, Bragança, Porto de Mós, Entroncamento, Setúbal, Beja and Faro, The Guardian and other news outlets reported on Monday.
“What we are looking into now is the possibility that some soldiers taking part in the national detached force in CAR were used as couriers in the trafficking of diamonds, gold and drugs,” the army said in a statement.
According to reporting by The Guardian, today’s operation involving 320 officers was two years in the making. It started roughly two years ago when a military commander received a tip-off about the alleged smuggling network.
“A criminal network with international connections is under investigation, which is dedicated to obtaining illicit profits through diamond and gold smuggling, drug trafficking, counterfeiting and passing of counterfeit currency,” the paper cited the force as saying.
Asked about the reports during an afternoon press conference, a UN spokesperson of the Secretary-General said he had just heard the reports and did not have a comment at that time.
UN in the Central African Republic
The report today sheds light on corruption within the peacekeeping mission. The UN mission in CAR, known as Minusca, includes over 15,000 personnel including 11,195 uniformed personnel. Its goal is to protect civilians.
Though the CAR is minerally rich — with gold and diamonds, it is devasted by conflict, humanitarian crises, and longstanding poverty. Gold and diamond smuggling has long plagued the African nation. In May, Interpol reported on illegal gold mining and smuggling out of the country. At the time, it said, “criminal actors engaged in illegal mining have made huge amounts of illicit profits at the expense of countries’ economies, vulnerable populations, and the environment across the Central African region.”
In October, the country’s leader announced a ceasefire with armed groups.
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