Swiss Rhine Ports as a Gateway to Switzerland – Also for Cocaine?

The Swiss federal authorities have arrested several individuals as part of a procedure against organized crime. This is based on announcements from the Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Office of Police (fedpol) dated April 28, 2026. The Swiss Rhine ports are coming under scrutiny, as they are reported to be the entry point for cocaine into Switzerland, according to a report first published in the Basler Zeitung.

According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, a total of six individuals have been arrested. They are accused of participating in a criminal organization and committing qualified violations of the narcotics law. The investigations are being conducted in cooperation with national and international authorities, including those in France and Germany. Searches were also carried out in the Basel region.

A fedpol employee is also under investigation. He is suspected of having disclosed confidential information for payment. Issues being examined include bribery, violation of official secrecy, and favoritism. Fedpol confirms that internal irregularities were identified and reported to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.

Port of Antwerp as Starting Point

Although the official announcements from the federal authorities do not make a direct connection to the Rhine ports, the case indirectly brings the logistics area of Basel into focus. According to media reports – including the Basler Zeitung – a focus of the investigations is in Northwestern Switzerland, where arrests and searches have been conducted.

The Basel region, along with the Swiss Rhine ports, forms a central access point for Switzerland to international seaports and is part of one of the most important European transport corridors. The close integration of inland ports, rail, and road makes the location a significant transshipment point for international goods flows.

In the cited cases, the goods were each transported via the Rhine to Basel. The starting point was always the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.

The Swiss Rhine ports are being scrutinized without fault, while the report in the Basler Zeitung also criticizes the security checks in the ports of Basel and Birsfelden as lax. This may now change. As a consequence of the incidents, the two Swiss cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft plan to join the European Ports Alliance. A delegation from the two cantons recently visited Antwerp for this reason. The Swiss Federal Council is also considering joining, according to a report on SRF.

The proceedings are still ongoing, and the presumption of innocence applies.