Nine serving members of the armed forces and one former soldier have been arrested for the possession and distribution of hard drugs, the Telegraaf reported on Monday.

The arrests follow an incident at a festival earlier this year, in which one of the soldiers was caught using drugs. Military police officers found information leading to the other nine on his mobile phone.

The drugs are said to have been used by the soldiers while off duty. Most of them were arrested at five separate army barracks nationwide but one was picked up during a training exercise in Germany, the Telegraaf said.

More arrests have not been ruled out.

The Koninklijke Marechaussee said last week that four serving members of the armed forces have been arrested on hard drugs charges.