Checks at Swiss-Austrian border reveal 150 kg of smuggled heroin

Authorities seized 150 kilograms of heroin from a truck during checks at a Swiss-Austrian border.

Photo: Checks at Swiss-Austrian border reveal 150 kg of smuggled heroin

The heroin had a street value of about 40 million Swiss francs (US$32.8; 24.5 EUR) and is probably the largest amount of the drug ever seized in Switzerland's history, according to Christian Abegg, investigative magistrate for the eastern Swiss canton (state) of St. Gallen.

The discovery occurred Aug. 7 when two Turkish men tried to enter Switzerland in a truck cab without a trailer. When customs authorities inspected the vehicle, they found 300 half-kilogram packets of heroin in the truck's sleeping cabin.

The two men were arrested, authorities said in a statement. The men were identified as a 49-year-old from Turkey and a 47-year-old Turk with Austrian residency.

The statement said Swiss authorities were working with their Austrian and Turkish counterparts to determine who was sending the heroin and who was the intended recipient. The truck was licensed with a Turkish freight company, authorities said.