National strategy to combat organized crime

On this politically broad-based foundation, the fight against OC is to be defined as a task for society as a whole. The Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (KKJPD), the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland (KKPKS), the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and other authorities will participate in the development of the OC strategy.

The new OC strategy should contain fields of action, objectives and measures and thus also form the framework for existing and future measures. Measures in the areas of prevention, repression and cooperation should be able to be based on this common foundation in future.

International criminal networks

The OC poses a growing threat in Switzerland. Italian mafia groups have been active in Switzerland for around fifty years, but are discreet and often well integrated into society. Analyses and ongoing investigations by fedpol and the cantonal police show that other groups are also active in Switzerland. International criminal networks, including groups from Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Turkey and Nigeria, use Switzerland as a base of operations and retreat. They deal in drugs, people and weapons and blow up ATMs.

OC thus threatens the security of the population, the legal economy, the rule of law and the safety of people who fall victim to human trafficking, for example. In some European countries, OC has now become a threat to internal security.

The current situation reports show that Switzerland serves organized crime as a safe hub for criminal activities such as international drug trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, arms trafficking and money laundering thanks to its geographical location, strong financial infrastructure and political stability.

The strategy as the basis for existing and future measures

A comprehensive inventory of the official instruments for combating OC in Switzerland in 2023 also showed the extent to which Switzerland is already infiltrated by OC today. The inventory also revealed weaknesses and needs in the fight against OC. Over 500 representatives from law enforcement and other authorities were able to contribute their experiences. In the review, an external team of experts made 20 recommendations for action to optimize the fight against OC. The OC strategy is intended to form the framework for examining and implementing these recommendations and help to fill the identified gaps with suitable measures.

The OC strategy should also form the basis for existing measures such as the National Action Plan against Human Trafficking. The fight against OC has been a strategic focus of fedpol and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland for several years. The cantonal police forces also recognize the challenge and the need to combat organized crime. Several cantonal police forces have already created specialized units for structural investigations and both the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders (KKPKS) and the Association of Swiss Criminal Police Chiefs (VSKC) have intensified their exchange and cooperation in the fight against OC and adapted their own structures. Preventive measures and investigations are increasingly being carried out jointly by federal and cantonal law enforcement agencies.

Fedpol will develop the strategy together with the federal, cantonal and municipal authorities involved. The findings of foreign authorities and the international police organizations Europol and Interpol will also be included in the work. A first draft of the OC strategy should be available by mid-2025, which will then be submitted to the Federal Council and the KKJPD for approval.

Source: Federal Office of Police