Police Bust Suspected Verbier Drug Ring

The Valais Cantonal Police have been conducting a large-scale drug-fighting operation in the Val de Bagnes for several months.

After thorough investigations, around 15 French nationals, who had no obvious links with each other, were arrested for drug trafficking.

These people were mainly active in the resort of Verbier.

Eight of them are currently still in custody.

The investigations revealed that very large quantities of narcotics were sold, including 10 kilograms of cocaine and smaller quantities of ketamine, ecstasy and cannabis.

Large quantities of drugs were seized from the suspects’ homes and vehicles.

In total the police seized:

• 3 kilograms of cannabis
• Several hundred grams of cocaine
• Hundreds of ecstasy pills and ketamine
• Tens of thousands of francs from this illegal activity, whose turnover is said to exceed one million francs.

Image c/o Valais Police

Around 20 users, some of them re-sellers, were also arrested.

Most of them are French, but there are also some locals among them.

As part of the police investigation, a special department in the Swiss police  worked closely with the French authorities.

In particular, within the framework of three international mutual legal assistance requests.

In Switzerland, the narcotics unit has also asked its colleagues in the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel for support.

Arrests and house searches were also carried out there.

In Valais, the unit was also supported by other specialised units of the force and the Municipal Police of Bagnes.

The public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.

The suspected drug traffickers face several years in prison and, for foreign nationals, expulsion from Switzerland for at least five years.

“This operation confirms the will of the Valais cantonal police to intensify its fight against narcotics,” said the Valais police in a statement.

“It is a first in terms of the number of arrests and seizures made.

“The investigation is ongoing and is likely to lead to further arrests.”

Image c/o Valais Police

The Valais cantonal police also points out that the resort of Verbier is no exception, as cocaine consumption has increased in the canton and spread to various consumer groups.

The Valais police began its investigation in October 2023 and completed it in the summer of  2024.

“It was a painstaking and patient piece of fieldwork that involved the participation of roughly forty people (investigators, gendarmes, police officers, border guards),” the police added.