Panalpina has been sucked into a bribery investigation involving its US and Nigerian businesses. The company's US subsidiary has received a request for documentation from the American authorities concerning questions about alleged improper payments to Nigerian customs officials. According to a Panalpina press release, the company was approached by the US Department of Justice as a result of a 'plea agreement' of a "customer with the US authorities for allegedly making improper payments to Nigerian officials to secure preferential customs treatment."

The Panalpina statement also suggested that the investigation would concern business with other oil producing areas: "Recently, several other customers have announced to US authorities the review of their practices related to Nigerian importation procedures. In the meantime US authorities have extended the scope of their review to Panalpina's documents related to services into Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia for a limited number of customers"

Press reports have linked the Panalpina enquiry with US Department of Justice investigations into a number of oil and oil services companies doing business with Nigeria. The oil services companies are being investigated for possible breaches of the 'Foreign Corrupt Practices Act'. These suggestions are unconfirmed. Panalpina has asked an independent law firm to conduct an internal enquiry into the issue.

Panalpina has been experiencing a period of vigorous growth, with profits boosted by the its strength in oil field 'project cargoes'. The company's shares fell heavily on the Zurich stock exchange.