Police target money laundering and hooligans

Incidents with violent football fans were again on the increase in 2013 Keystone

The Federal Police Office says its activities last year focused on combatting white-collar crime, money laundering, human trafficking and violence at sporting events.

It highlights cases of economic crime in connection with the privatisation of a Czech energy company, Mostecka Uhelna Spolecnost, and in connection with Italian mafia groups.

In its annual report the office says the authorities are taking seriously the fight against cross-border crime despite complex procedures and language hurdles.

“Switzerland shows its commitment to vigorously combatting abuses of its financial centre,” a statement says.

The office estimates the number of people likely to commit violence at sports events has risen to 700, and up to 1,700 people are thought to be sympathisers. At the end of last year, a record 1,385 people had been placed under restraining orders.

Mafia groups based in northern Italy are the main threat from outside the country, but no major violent incidents have been reported.

The office says Switzerland is not a primary target of Islamic militants, but the country is used as a financial and logistical hub.

The report also notes that cases of conmen who mainly prompt elderly people to hand over large sums of money to callers posing as relatives have doubled over the past year.

Darknet

Paedophile criminals increasingly use the darknet for their illegal activities, according to the authorities.

As a result the number of reported cases of child pornography has dropped considerably compared with 2012.

There is no official data on the number of darknet websites or their users. The federal police say it is difficult and time consuming to identify perpetrators and victims.

A darknet is a private network using non-standard protocols. Sharing is anonymous and connections are made only between trusted peers.