After a major synthetic‑drug network was dismantled in Europe, Swiss public broadcaster RSI asked an expert whether – and how – Switzerland might be involved in producing or trafficking such drugs. Last month, Europol announced the dismantling of a major synthetic drug network active across several European countries. The operation led to over 100 arrests, the closure of 24 laboratories, the seizure of 9.3 tonnes of narcotics and 1,000 tonnes of chemicals used to manufacture substances such as MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine and cathinone. Is Switzerland also affected by this illegal drugs trade? RSI asked Frank Zobel, co-head of research and deputy director of the NGO Addiction Switzerland. RSI: Is Switzerland directly or indirectly affected by illegal synthetic drug production and trafficking networks in Europe? What role does it play? Frank Zobel: It is possible that a seizure of this kind will also have an impact in Switzerland, although at the moment we do not have enough ...
