Untouchable? Think again!
A small, unassuming shop on a busy downtown street in central Switzerland. For several months, a number of men have been coming and going, unremarkable and routine. What initially appears to be ordinary business activity turns out may be hub for a drug and money laundering network.
Under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, fedpol has been working with the Lucerne police to investigate an alleged criminal organisation linked to ethnic Albanians. The suspicion is that criminals are systematically laundering drug money through a travel agency. Between March 2022 and February 2023, investigators logged over 750 visits by persons believed to be money couriers – a clear indication of active operations. Investigations suggest that the travel agency is being used as a financial hub. The operators are suspected of having channelled several million francs out of the country, a large proportion to Albania and Kosovo via informal financial channels.
International ties and covert operations
The travel agency’s operators appear to be part of a larger criminal network that extends across Switzerland, the Balkans and other European countries. At its core are ringleaders involved in various criminal activities. The suspects feel safe. In wiretapped phone calls, it becomes clear that they believe they are leaving no tracks and can trust the reliability of their network. A mistake: in September 2024, fedpol and the Lucerne police, backed by the Basel-Stadt cantonal police and the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, move in. On Action Day, six people are taken into custody, houses are raided across Switzerland, and evidence is seized. It is a long and challenging day for all the police officers involved. The simultaneous coordination of the authorities at the various locations requires meticulous preparation and maximum concentration.
The investigations continue
The suspects have now been detained pending trial, and the investigation continues. Interagency cooperation is essential in the fight against organised crime, as this case clearly shows. fedpol will continue its efforts, because anyone who thinks they are above the law underestimates the reach of law enforcement.
The presumption of innocence applies to all persons mentioned.
‘This joint operation by fedpol and the Lucerne police is a prime example of how close cooperation between police forces and a common strategy can bring decisive wins in the fight against organised crime.’
Marie, federal investigator