Swiss Drug Officers Warn of 'Cocaine Boom' Amid Falling Prices and Mafia Ties

Switzerland is grappling with an unprecedented cocaine wave that is transforming its drug market, according to law enforcement officials. In Zurich, the head of narcotics enforcement, Bernhard Stettler, described cocaine as their biggest problem. He recalled a time when seizing one kilogram of cocaine was cause for celebration, but now, even low-level dealers possess multiple kilograms.

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We see cocaine everywhere in nightlife – either in your pocket or in your blood.

The situation has drastically changed, with cocaine dominating seizures. "We practically only see cocaine now. And in quantities that were unthinkable before," Stettler stated. He noted that even the lowest tier of dealers now commonly possess one to two kilograms, a quantity previously found only with major players.

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Today we practically only see cocaine. And in quantities that were unthinkable before.

This surge is accompanied by a steep price drop. A kilogram of cocaine, which cost around 45,000 Swiss francs four years ago, now sells for 15,000 to 20,000 francs. This affordability is fueling increased demand, especially among younger demographics.

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Even the lowest charge of the dealers sometimes has one or two kilos at home.

Investigators from Aargau and St. Gallen confirmed the widespread availability of cocaine. An officer from Aargau noted that their work has shifted almost entirely to cocaine investigations over the past three to four years. A St. Gallen investigator pointed to Mediterranean ports as key entry points, with cocaine often reaching Switzerland through networks associated with the Serbian or Albanian mafias.

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For three or four years now, everything has been different – now we are practically only cocaine investigators.