Tirana, Pristina, Switzerland alike how cocaine money laundering worked

A quiet road in the middle of Tirana finds a currency exchange. She almost doesn't stand out. Here, writes Swiss portal Zentralplus, has moved from Switzerland money earned from the drug trade. On the other side of the long road of money transfer is a travel agency in Lucern, central Switzerland. Those involved in this work allegedly used the “havala” system. In this system, a person delivers money to one location and receives a code; by this code, it can draw the same amount to another. Physical money is transferred later.

It is known how this system of things has been used and who is behind it. New reports from Albanian media, which rely on special prosecution documents and on wiretaps, show this, writes Zentralplus.

The center is a man named “Visi”. He actually belonged to the exchange room mentioned in Tirana, even though he was officially on behalf of a relative. This is said in an Albanian prosecution document, which has closed the bar.

“Viss” task was co-ordination and transfer management. He allegedly organised the collection of money from drug networks in Switzerland, the transfer to Albania and the distribution of beneficiaries.

Persistent conversations show he talked to different people about sending money from Switzerland to Albania and distributing it. In one case, during the pandemic, when the borders were closed and the funds were scarce, he said: “at the moment up there has been closed” and “down we are empty”. “Up” referred to Switzerland, “down” Albania. Other discussions discussed the collection and transportation of money.

Once the flights were resumed, the transfers could also be carried out in the opposite direction. He had a two million franc fund in Switzerland for that purpose.

Transport was often done according to the same pattern: from Luzerni, “corriers” carried the money by plane to Pristina. It was taken and sent by car to Tiranë, where the crates from which the beneficiaries of the system were paid were loaded.

Often for receiving money in Pristina was “Vis”, called “Nipi”. He was arrested in July 2020 at the border, when 77 thousand Swiss francs were found. “Nip” was practically the right hand of “Vis”: carried or coordinated when he couldn't.

After the arrest of “Nip”, the main role was “Papi”. He is considered a key figure. According to reports, he had previously lived in Switzerland and was known in Albania as “bos” of cocaine. He was arrested in 2018 but was soon released. He too was suspected to have a replacement.

“Papi” regularly traveled to Pristina to get money. When he could not go on his own, he paid bus drivers to smuggle his money. It is said that this was how at least 800 francs were transported.

He was also active in Lucerne, where he received money and took them to the travel agency or other addresses.

A relative of the travel agency's owner in Lucern was located in Pristina, he was known as “Xen”. He was a key link to the distribution network. There came money from drug trafficking, usually by plane, and from there they were taken by “Papi” and others.

Still not clear how deep the agency's Kosovo operators are involved in this network. In Switzerland, in September 2024, six people were arrested. The charge: Owner and his sons allegedly helped transfer about seven million francs abroad.

Since 2022, the police had been monitoring the agency. In just one year, over 750 visits were recorded by persons suspected as drug couriers.

In the bugged conversations, the agency was called simply “zyra”. Operators and “Visi” allegedly received up to 6 for the transfer commission.

Reports offer a wider mirror of Albania's drug trafficking network. It still remains unclear whether there were other ties from Luzerni towards Albania.

Swiss and Albanian special prosecutors are investigating the case. “Visi” is in custody in Switzerland pending trial. “Papi” is in prison in Albania. Authorities have seized money and wealth, including exchanges, a coastal villa and an apartment in Tirana. All involved are the presumption of innocence, writes the Swiss portal Zentralplus. /Periscope