The end of the line for the mastermind behind a drug-trafficking ring
Spring 2024: fedpol was informed by international partners of possible drug shipments to Switzerland. Nearly a year later, following a lengthy investigation, a network operating between Switzerland, France and Germany was dismantled.
It all began in the spring of 2024, when fedpol was contacted by its French counterparts at the Office for the Fight against Stupefacients (OFAST). They were investigating a criminal network suspected of importing large quantities of narcotics into Europe via shipping containers. Cocaine from South America and hashish from Morocco passed through Spanish ports before being transported to and distributed in Switzerland. At the centre of the case was a man in his thirties, whom we will refer to as Frank*, described as a key intermediary.
The FOJ quickly launched a preliminary investigation. Its aim was to assist the French authorities and determine the extent of trafficking on Swiss territory, as well as the cantons affected, with a view to incorporating them into the investigation.
In August 2024, an initial surveillance operation by the Federal Criminal Police at fedpol confirmed Frank’s activities. During that operation, he met briefly with Richard*. This German national would soon reveal that the network’s activities did not stop at the Swiss border but extended as far as southern Germany.
Close cooperation between the authorities
As part of this initial surveillance conducted by fedpol investigators, clandestine meetings were confirmed to have taken place between Frank, Richard and individuals in the Zurich area. Several addresses were identified, along with one or two potential drug storage locations. On the basis of this evidence, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland opened federal proceedings against Frank in September 2024 for alleged drug trafficking.
The following weeks saw a series of transactions in the Zurich region, including deliveries of ‘Moroccan suitcases’ (slabs of cannabis resin bundled together and wrapped in burlap for ease of transport), cocaine, and repeated visits to a currency exchange bureau following the deliveries. The roles of the authorities became more clearly defined. In particular, the cantons took charge of monitoring the semi-wholesalers. These individuals purchase drugs and may supply them to street dealers, while also selling drugs themselves. For its part, fedpol remained responsible for the investigations against Frank and his German accomplice, as well as for coordinating the operation internationally.
In late November 2024, one of Frank’s clients was arrested in Zurich. Law enforcement officers seized over a kilo of hashish from him. The story doesn’t end there. Searches of his home led to the seizure of nearly 55kg of hashish, 9kg of marijuana and around 200,000 francs in cash. The drugs seized matched the Moroccan suitcase that Frank had previously delivered to his client, a delivery documented by the investigators handling the case.
Raids in three countries
Five days later, a check at the Austrian-German border led to the seizure of 1.2kg of cocaine from a vehicle linked to the network run by Frank and his accomplice Richard. This confirmed the existence of shipments to Germany. After several months of close collaboration, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland succeeded in obtaining a clear picture of the entire network and decided to move to the next phase: making arrests.
In February 2025, following the arrival of approximately 10kg of cocaine in Lyon, Frank was arrested by OFAST, after the French authorities took over this phase of the investigation. Richard was arrested in Germany a few hours later. Other members of the network were arrested in the weeks that followed. On the fedpol side, a report was prepared so that the affected cantons could continue their investigations or even launch new ones.
This international and cantonal collaboration, coordinated by fedpol, brought to light a network sourcing its goods primarily from Spain. The drugs were then stored near Lyon, after which a certain quantity was transported to Switzerland, where part of the supply went to the local market and another part to the German market. At the heart of this network, Frank organised the transport, storage, distribution and withdrawal of cash. A true mastermind, who ultimately landed in jail.
* Name changed
“As soon as we receive information from a foreign partner regarding potential drug trafficking, the key is to act swiftly to thwart this threat and identify the individuals involved. Close collaboration with the cantons is crucial during this phase.”
Jan, federal investigator
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