Federal prosecutor is missing personnel for mafia hunt
Organized crime
The federal prosecutor lack funds for mafia hunt
The supervision of the Federal Prosecutor's office is noted by a lack of investigative staff at the Federal Criminal Police. This should be particularly pleased with criminal organizations that can continue their business undisturbed.
Federal Prosecutor Stefan Blättler has long since asked for more investigators and police officers in the fight against the mafia.
If the federal prosecutor received more support from the criminal police, it could better combat mafia structures in Switzerland. Because In view of the crime situation ”, she could also open up more criminal proceedings against criminal organizations with additional resources, than it is currently possible. This is determined by the supervisory authority through the Federal Prosecutor's Office in its inspection published on Thursday.
The supervisory authority followed the claims of the authorities concerned. Because criminal organizations are also spreading almost unhindered in Switzerland. Federal Prosecutor Stefan Blättler already pointed to this newspaper in December Development that endangers the state. « If a state does not defend itself against organized crimes, then it becomes visible at some point: you see it in Sweden, Belgium, Holland. » The organized crime in the streets is visible there.
Blättler also linked this statement with a claim: « It needs a lot more police officers, it takes a lot more investigators. » The Federal Police Fedpol could only deliver what it can cope with in terms of personnel. « And that's too little. »
Hit against 'Ndrangheta with Swiss help
The financial police of the Northern Italian city of Brescia (Lombardy) arrested six people in cooperation with Swiss authorities as part of an operation against the mafia organization 'Ndrangheta. They are accused of extortion and kidnapping an entrepreneur. On the Swiss side, police and judicial authorities were involved at the cantonal and federal level, as well as the EU Agency for Justice Collection (Euro Just) and the Interpol cooperation service for combating the 'Ndrangheta (I-CAN). According to information from the RAI, the arrests included in December 2021. These initial investigations concerned the activities of criminal structures in the Brescia area, which have connections to the 'Ndrangheta clan Piromalli-Molé in Calabria. The investigation revealed an alleged illegal tax evasion system. This was made possible by a circulation of invoices for non -existent transactions with a total value of over 250 million euros. The illegal mediation of workers between construction companies in Lombardy played an important role. As a precaution, the authorities confiscated over 27 million euros in assets of the companies concerned. (CBE)
Blättler told the supervisory authority that 40 to 60 jobs needed to fix the largest bottlenecks at the Federal Criminal Police. Former Fedpol boss Nicoletta Della Valle said in 2023 that 200 investigators were missing. At that time the stock was with 136 people.
The supervisory authority confirms the lack of resources. In some fields of description, the Federal Criminal Police would have to work two to three times more federal investigators. There is a big defect, especially in procedures against criminal organizations.
Wrong priorities and insufficient cooperation
However, this is not just a resource problem. The supervisory authority also finds that the federal police are incorrectly set by priorities. The federal prosecutor gave information, but there was no personnel to pursue it. The federal prosecutor had to switch to the help of the cantonal police twice. Another time there was a month -long postponement of an arrest in the case of economic crime.
It is clear to the supervisory authority that the Federal Criminal Police must focus on the needs of the federal prosecutor. In the report, it dispenses with an exact number of investigators that are needed. However, the supervision appeals to the Federal Council and Parliament to solve the resource problem.
The scenario that the report outlines in the event of further inactivity: Switzerland as a retreat for foreign criminal organizations is attracted to attractiveness if they can continue to wash their money undisturbed.
