In 2025, authorities in the Canton of Basel-Stadt recorded 1,198 reported offenses under the Narcotics Act (BetmG). The vast majority, 77.5 percent or 928 cases, were categorized as personal consumption (Eigenkonsum), which are infractions (Übertretungen). Offenses related to illegal trade, cultivation, or manufacture not for personal use—classified as misdemeanors (Vergehen) and felonies (Verbrechen)—accounted for 22.1 percent, or 265 cases. This data reflects the ongoing dynamics of the city's drug scene, which has a complex die Drogengeschichte der Stadt Basel.

Suspects in these cases were predominantly male, comprising 88.8 percent of the total, while women accounted for 10.9 percent. In terms of nationality, 56.5 percent of suspects were Swiss citizens and 43.5 percent were foreign nationals. The age distribution shows a strong concentration among younger adults, with the 18–29 age group representing 44.6 percent of all suspects, followed by the 30–39 group at 28.5 percent. Suspects aged 50 and above were minimally represented, together accounting for less than 10 percent of the total.

The trend in reported drug offenses over the past decade and a half shows a significant and consistent decline from a peak (Figure 1). The highest number of offenses was recorded in 2017 with 3,968 cases, while the 2025 figure of 1,198 is the lowest in the available time series, representing a drop of nearly 70 percent from that peak. This long-term downward trend, particularly pronounced since 2020, coincides with ongoing discussions about policing and public drug use in areas like a recent report by Bajour. The composition of offenses has also shifted, with the share of personal consumption infractions increasing as the overall number of more serious trade-related offenses has fallen.

Two notable observations emerge from the data. First, the enforcement focus remains overwhelmingly on personal consumption, with the single most common charge being "possession or acquisition for personal use," which alone accounted for 664 cases, or over 55 percent of all BetmG offenses in 2025. Second, the clearance rate for these personal-use infractions is notably high at 94.9 percent, suggesting these are typically offenses detected directly by police intervention rather than through complex investigation.