The Federal Police say serious criminal activities such as human trafficking and money laundering have become a global threat.

In their 2010 report which was released on Thursday, they also said combatting cybercrime had become one of the biggest challenges facing Swiss authorities, alongside the fight against organised crime and human trafficking.

“With increasing frequency, transnational crime is planned and prepared over the internet. The offenders are becoming faster and are more difficult to identify,” the report states.

The internet enabled criminal organisations to work with hackers and virus creators regardless of their physical location.

The report also confirmed the Italian mafia continue to be “very active” in Switzerland, using the country as a logistics and transit hub.

The police also warned that cases of human trafficking from eastern European countries increased last year and said that witness protection measures were vital in bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice.

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