---
title: "Swiss police catch more than a dozen drug traffickers in Verbier bust"
description: "A multi-month investigation showed that the 15 French nationals were involved in trafficking record drug volumes for the canton, police said. They are suspected of selling over 10 kilograms of cocaine as well as smaller quantities of ketamine, ecstasy and cannabis, some of which was seized."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Drug trafficking"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-05-swiss-police-catch-more-than-a-dozen-drug-traffickers-in-verbier-bust/"
published: "2024-11-05T13:00:01"
updated: "2024-11-05T13:02:48"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 87
---

# Swiss police catch more than a dozen drug traffickers in Verbier bust

> A multi-month investigation showed that the 15 French nationals were involved in trafficking record drug volumes for the canton, police said. They are suspected of selling over 10 kilograms of cocaine as well as smaller quantities of ketamine, ecstasy and cannabis, some of which was seized.

By Reuters · Published 5 November 2024, 15:00 SAST · Updated 5 November 2024, 15:02 SAST

## Key points
- In a ski resort where the slopes aren't the only thing getting steep, Valais police have made historic drug busts, proving that the only thing more inflated than the prices in Verbier is the local cocaine consumption.
- Valais police report unprecedented scale of arrests and drug seizures in Verbier.
- Ongoing investigations are expected to yield additional arrests.
- Verbier, renowned for its luxury and nightlife, faces rising cocaine use beyond its borders.
- Authorities highlight a general increase in cocaine consumption across the canton.

## Content

"This marks a first in terms of the scale of the arrests made and seizures made. Investigations are continuing and should lead to further arrests," the Valais police statement said.

Verbier, a French-speaking Alpine village located in the southern French-speaking canton, is one of the world's most expensive ski resorts, with a party scene as famous as its slopes.

Police said drug use was hardly limited to the Verbier area, noting that cocaine consumption has increased generally across the canton.

(Reporting by Emma FargeEditing by Peter Graff)