Escape to a luxury paradise
Switzerland is an enticing destination for criminal organisations, including for mafia-like groups from Southeast Europe. The Albanian mafia smuggles drugs and works with other groups to do so. Following the trail of Driton* and Luca*, from Solothurn via Belgium, Spain, Albania and Italy to Dubai.
Analysis shows that the Albanian mafia plays a major role in the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics in Switzerland. It sells cocaine and heroin. On its own? Quite the opposite: south-eastern European criminal organisations often seek out allies. Driton and Luca are perfect examples of this.
Driton and Luca both lived in the Canton of Solothurn and were part of a small drug trafficking ring that imported heroin and cocaine into Switzerland and sold these drugs locally. Their activities did not go unnoticed; in 2021, investigations conducted by the Solothurn cantonal police, led by the Solothurn public prosecutor’s office, resulted in the dismantling of this group. The police managed to seize 15 kilograms of drugs but the two suspects managed to evade the police and cross the border. At this point, fedpol began assisting the cantonal police in the manhunt. They traced the route the suspects took, which first led to Belgium and then to Spain. This was no coincidence: the suspects most likely had contacts in these two countries, which are major entry points for drugs coming in from South America. Driton and Luca then left Spain for Albania, Driton’s home country.
By this time, everyone was working on the case: fedpol investigators, the fedpol police attaché in Kosovo and the local Albanian authorities. Driton and Luca were soon taken into custody. Luca was extradited to Switzerland to face criminal charges that had already been filed by the public prosecutor’s office in Solothurn, and was subsequently convicted of his crimes in Switzerland. His story ends there. Driton, on the other hand, was not brought to justice in Albania and was back on the streets after only a few days.
While the Swiss judicial authorities continued their efforts to bring Driton to trial, he was already back in business. Within a period of two years, he rose to the position of middleman, taking responsibility for direct imports from South America to Western Europe, trafficking much larger quantities than in his Solothurn days. Driton arranged for the transport of several hundred kilograms of cocaine. In order to plan the logistical routes for the drug smuggling operation, he entered the Schengen Area using at least one false identity.
Interoperability within the Schengen Area
Swiss police, border control and migration authorities now have access to EU databases such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS). Each of these databases must be queried separately. Starting in 2027, a new European Search Portal (ESP) will enable authorities to submit search requests to these databases through a single interface. Not only that: the ESP will also include a multiple-identity detector: by cross-referencing data in the various databases, false or multiple identities can be detected.
Soon Albanian police were once again hot on Driton’s heels. However, by the time they arrived at the scene, he had disappeared. Thanks to biometric identification and support given by fedpol’s police attaché, they discovered that he had obtained Kosovar travel documents. These contained his real biometric data but were issued in the name of a different person. Using this new identity, he had managed to flee Europe.
His destination? Dubai. Driton did not remain in his self-imposed exile for long though. Thanks to the cooperation between fedpol, the public prosecutor’s office in Solothurn, the Albanian authorities and the liaison officers of a partner state, Driton was arrested in early 2025. Extradition is now only a matter of time…
‘There is no room for a silo mentality in police work. Direct contacts on the ground are invaluable and irreplaceable. The network of police attachés, which was set up 30 years ago, confirms this time and again.’
Bertram, Police Attaché