French pizza joints were a mafia front

Friday, 11 July 2025 06:30

Two pizzerias near the French-Swiss border had a secret - they allegedly helped launder millions for organised crime.

Earlier this year, five family members were arrested in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois and Haute-Savoie, suspected of working for the mafia.

A third restaurant was also shut down.

French, Swiss, Italian, and German investigators, along with Interpol, spent three years on the case.

Authorities say the suspects used fake salaries for over 300 staff to circulate illegal funds and inflated pizza sales to mask laundering.

The accused deny all charges but are believed to be related to two senior mafia figures.

More from Bitesize News

Too late to save the ski season

It’s being a grim ski season.
No major breakthough's expected at Davos

The new co-chair of the World Economic Forum, André Hoffmann, has played down expectations surrounding Donald Trump’s appearance in Davos.
Gruyère survives US sanctions

Sales of Gruyère cheese fell less sharply last year than expected, despite US tariffs.
Paléo wins major award

The Paléo Festival has been named Best Major Festival in Europe.
Push to fund night trains by cities

After the refusal by Bern to subsidize night trains, left-wing parties in five cities are launching a coordinated push to support international night trains.
One inequality less in Swiss football.

The Swiss Football Association has changed the priority order for the use of playing fields, giving women’s football precedence over men’s competitions - with the exception of the Men’s Super League, which keeps top priority.