Raid against alleged drug ring: Three arrests across six cantons
The Vaud cantonal police conducted a raid against an alleged drug trafficking ring on 28 April. Three suspects were remanded in custody and assets worth millions were seized.
Coordinated raid across six cantons and three countries
According to srf.ch, the Vaud cantonal police carried out a coordinated operation against an alleged drug trafficking ring on 28 April. The investigation into suspected money laundering had been ongoing for several years beforehand – in close cooperation with the Vaud public prosecutor's office.
The operation took place simultaneously across the cantons of Vaud, Bern, Solothurn, Zurich, St. Gallen and Lucerne as well as in Nigeria, France and Greece. Support was provided by the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) and the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (BAZG).
In the canton of Vaud alone, more than fifty police officers were deployed. Three suspects were arrested there: two of them reside in the canton of Bern, a further person in the canton of Vaud. All three are in remand custody; the presumption of innocence applies to them.
Searches were carried out of the suspects' homes as well as money transfer agencies in Lausanne, Bern and Lucerne. The authorities seized computers and mobile phones. Furthermore, assets totalling several hundred thousand francs were confiscated, which are believed to have originated from criminal activities.
In Zurich, the operation targeted a financial services provider which, according to the public prosecutor's office, is said to have transferred illegal funds worth millions – including proceeds from drug trafficking – abroad over a period of years.
In Nigeria, the authorities there seized real estate and assets. A police officer and an accounting analyst from the Vaud police participated in the interrogation of a person suspected of aiding and abetting in Nigeria, and carried out investigative measures jointly with the Nigerian authorities.
The police provided no further details on the exact measures in order not to jeopardise the progress of the investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)