Fedpol Chief: Swiss Police Lack Sufficient Resources Against Organised Crime
The head of the Federal Police Office (Fedpol) warns that Switzerland is severely understaffed in its fight against organised crime. Around 60 cases from the cracked SkyECC database await investigation.
Fedpol Chief: Swiss Police Lack Sufficient Resources Against Organised Crime
The head of the Federal Police Office (Fedpol) has issued urgent warnings about the consequences of inadequate resources in combating organised crime. In an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) Group, published on Wednesday, she stated that approximately 60 proceedings in Switzerland are based on data from the cracked encryption app Sky ECC. Fedpol itself is handling 15 of these cases.
However, only 20 per cent of the extensive data material has been evaluated so far. The authorities simply lack sufficient capacity. Time is working against the investigators: the older the information, the less valuable it becomes.
According to the Fedpol chief, the insights gained from the messages show that the Mafia has undoubtedly infiltrated Switzerland. Members of the Balkan Mafia, the Italian Mafia and other criminal organisations are involved. These organisations meticulously divide their illegal activities among themselves and increasingly work together. The exact number of cells remains unclear, but drug production now even takes place in the country.
Using images sent via Sky ECC, investigators were able to observe how legally grown hemp was sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids in a laboratory. The treated product was then exported in large quantities as THC-containing cannabis.
According to the Fedpol chief, current police resources are insufficient to effectively combat organised crime. Sometimes 20 to 30 federal and cantonal police officers work on a single case over several months. With all available means of Switzerland's police forces, approximately five such proceedings could be conducted simultaneously. Measured by population, Switzerland's police density is significantly below the European average.
Securing evidence for prosecutions is also difficult. Businesses located in prime locations that are almost always empty, or ice cream parlours that report the same turnover in winter as in summer, are typical indicators. The police suspect something is amiss, but intervention is extremely difficult. While tax authorities, food inspection agencies or labour inspections can conduct controls, this often falls short of what is needed for prosecution.
Organised crime remains largely invisible to the public. However, this has tangible consequences: as they expand, criminal networks increasingly attempt to influence the judiciary. In SkyECC chats, two people from Calabria inquired how the Swiss justice system could be manipulated. The criminals also wanted to infiltrate Switzerland's legal system.
Source: swissinfo.ch