English Corner

Lucerne travel agency as a hub for the drug mafia
A travel agency in the centre of Lucerne specialising in trips to the Balkans is at the centre of one of the biggest organised crime scandals in Switzerland. As reported by the «Tages-Anzeiger», the unassuming business is said to have been used for years as a transfer point for drug money – right in plain sight of the Lucerne police.
Within a year, the police registered more than 750 visits by suspected drug and money couriers. Investigators found that more than seven million francs had been laundered through the travel agency, which is thought to have originated from international drug trafficking. Some of the money was transported to Albania in cash, while other funds were transferred via the hawala system.
Raid and Arrests
In September 2024, a large police force arrested the owner of the travel agency, his two sons and a long-standing employee. Eyewitnesses reported dramatic scenes: people were led out of the business with their faces covered. In total, more than 40 drug couriers were arrested in connection with the activities of the travel agency.
The alleged head of the drug ring, known by the alias Tarik Berisha, is thought to have managed the operational side of the business in Switzerland. However, those behind him are thought to be in Kosovo and Albania, according to the investigations. In tapped conversations, Berisha is said to have confidently stated that they would «never be caught by the police» because they left no traces.
According to the police, the travel agency played a central role in the criminal activities: it served as the location where money was received, managed, and transport was organized. In addition, the owner ran other companies that offered services in global cash transfers.
The travel agency remains closed following the arrests, and enquiries from journalists have gone unanswered. The lawyer for the main suspect merely stated that his client did not wish to speak to the media at the present time.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has applied for the pre-trial detention of six individuals and is investigating them for participation in a criminal organisation, money laundering and violations of the Narcotics Act. The presumption of innocence continues to apply to all those involved.