SRF uncovers ties between Basel gang and the Daltons

The Tolhildan group trades in weapons and cocaine, extorts protection money and runs illegal gambling, according to an investigation by SRF Investigativ. The group has ties to the Daltons, an internationally notorious criminal organisation, and members display weapons on social media.

In Basel, the Tolhildan have met in a basement venue and used an apartment on a quiet residential street. The apartment is the registered address of S., the group’s alleged leader. S. and other members are known to law enforcement and are close to the Kurdish underground organisation PKK.

The group’s size is unclear. Investigative journalist Cevheri Güven told SRF that its political background makes it more dangerous than other mafia groups, saying former PKK fighters have received weapons training. Güven has reported for years on organised crime in Turkey and now lives in exile in Germany under police protection.

The Tolhildan have worked with the Daltons since at least this summer, SRF reports. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Police confirmed the cooperation, saying it occurs occasionally in Switzerland, according to Markus Gisin, head of the Federal Criminal Police.

The Daltons, named after the bumbling villains in the Lucky Luke comics, are described as a new generation of organised crime group that uses social media to publicise its activities and recruit members, some of them very young or underage. They are accused in Turkey and Germany of extortion, arms and drug trafficking, and other organised-crime offences. After a crackdown in Turkey, many senior members fled to Western Europe. Their alleged leader is believed to be in Russia, directing the group from there.

In Germany, the Daltons have drawn sustained attention from law enforcement in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. The group has carried out near-daily attacks on commercial premises for months, the report says. In April 2026, a shisha bar in Mannheim burned down; the police authority responsible said the Daltons were suspected of being behind the fire.

SRF reports that the Tolhildan and the Daltons may be controlled by the same alleged Kurdish-Turkish drug boss, known as Siirtli Naci. Media reports say Interpol has sought him for years and describe him as a significant figure in Europe’s cocaine market.

A social media post from 2024 reviewed by SRF shows an international Tolhildan gathering at a restaurant in the canton of Aargau. The post shows S. seated in the middle of the group, while a floral arrangement bears the name Siirtli Naci. Güven said the apparent presence of the alleged cartel leader would signal to rivals that the Tolhildan had powerful backing.

When SRF contacted S. about the gathering, he said Siirtli Naci was a relative who had congratulated him on his wedding. S. also said that the man was respected in Turkey as a charitable businessman. The images show men but no bride. S. denied criminal activity and said he had fought for the PKK but broken with the organisation in 2018. He called the allegations absurd and baseless.

While tracing the Tolhildan, SRF Investigativ also found several weapon shops on Telegram.