February 26, 2026, 1:12 p.mFebruary 26, 2026, 1:12 p.m
Seven suspects were arrested in France and Italy on Monday for suspected cocaine smuggling. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, in this context there were searches and the confiscation of assets in Switzerland.
The group shipped significant quantities of cocaine to Europe. (symbol image)Image: keystone
Those arrested are accused of smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, the European Police Office (Europol) and the European Union Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Eurojust) announced on Thursday. Law enforcement authorities in Switzerland, France, Italy and Belgium took part in the day of action.
The group shipped significant quantities of cocaine to Europe. A seizure at the end of 2025 in Belgium represented the decisive breakthrough and led to a wanted Montenegrin national, it said.
Money laundering using front companies
This was sought by several European countries. He lived with his family in France in the Cannes area. According to the communiqué, he was arrested in France and luxury goods worth over five million euros were seized on the French Riviera.
According to the spokesman, no people were arrested in Switzerland. (symbol image)Image: Keystone
The cocaine profits were laundered using shell companies, false invoices and luxury investments. Members of the Camorra and the ‘Ndrangheta would have reinvested millions of euros across Europe.
Operation in Ticino and Graubünden
In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) carried out the operation in Ticino and Graubünden on behalf of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, as a spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office told the Keystone-SDA news agency upon request. Fedpol acted together with the responsible cantonal police and the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG).
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office did not provide any information on the exact number of searches and seizures. According to the spokesman, no people were arrested in Switzerland. (sda)