Grippers for a picking device for drug packages and methods for operating the picking device are provided. The gripper has a tray table extending in a first and a second horizontal direction with an end portion with an arcuate front extending in the second direction, the end portion forming the loading and unloading front and wherein the tray table and the end portion define an upper bearing surface. The gripper further includes a transport device arranged above the tray table and movable in the first horizontal direction for moving drug packages from a horizontal storage surface onto the tray table, and at least one sensor coupled to a control device and arranged in the end portion below the bearing surface and capable of determining the presence of a drug package in its detection area.