Around fifteen individuals of French nationality were arrested in the Verbier resort, in the Val de Bagnes. They are notably suspected of having sold record quantities of cocaine. In the fight against the sale of narcotics, this is the largest series of arrests ever made in Valais.
The traders of Verbier, the popular ski resort of Val de Bagnes, first raised the alarm two years ago. They were worried about seeing more and more drugs circulating. At the request of the municipality, the cantonal police ended up taking charge of the case in autumn 2023, leading this summer to the arrest of around fifteen French nationals, with no apparent link between them.
More than a million turnover
“It’s long-term work. We have to talk about twelve months of investigations, a long-term investment, namely investigators who conduct hearings and carry out searches,” he told RTS. Patrick Tissières, head of the narcotics brigade at the Valais police. The scale of the affair is unprecedented in Valais.
According to the investigation, ten kilos of cocaine, but also ketamine, ecstasy or cannabis were sold by the dealers, who made a turnover of more than a million francs. Currently, eight people are still in pre-trial detention. Around twenty consumers, some resellers, were also arrested during this raid.
The complexity of ski resorts
Other investigations are still ongoing. They could lead to new arrests. According to the authorities, Val de Bagnes is not the only region affected in the canton. “The work we do in the resorts is very difficult because the flow of tourists fluctuates. Seasonal workers change from year to year and it’s not like in a city where we have an established population base. “There isn’t this common thread of the population that is settling in,” explains Patrick Tissières.
Even if it is no longer a surprise to see drug trafficking taking place in the stations, Val de Bagnes did not expect to see such a series of arrests. “We knew that there were illicit activities, but we do not have the skills to judge. These situations are often hidden. We took a somewhat proactive action. This allows us to see that we are also worried about this what’s happening,” Christophe Maret, president of the commune, told RTS.
Following this case, the Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation. The suspects face prison sentences of several years and expulsion from Swiss territory for a minimum of five years for foreign nationals.
Emilien Verdon
Swiss
