A soldier arrested carrying several kilos of drugs has committed suicide after stealing a gun from a trainee officer and then shooting himself.

The 33-year-old, who has not been named, belonged to the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment stationed in French Guiana.

He was on leave and had travelled back from the French overseas department in South America to Paris’ Orly Airport on 21st December.

The soldier was arrested at the airport following a customs check during which he was found to be carrying four kilogrammes (8.8 lbs) of cocaine.

He was placed in preventive detention while France’s Anti-Drug Office opened an investigation into the case.

However, the man decided to end his life when a trainee police officer, who had recently joined the service, brought a meal to his cell.

Following a struggle between the pair, the suspect managed to overpower the woman and grab her service weapon with which he subsequently shot himself in the face.

The man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but succumbed to his injuries en route.

The trainee officer was offered counselling and will subsequently be heard by the Inspectorate-General of the National Police, which must conduct an investigation into the man’s death.

A 2018 report suggested that France was being “flooded” with cocaine arriving on daily flights between French Guiana and the capital.

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