The Organized Crime Division, as part of Operation «THERISMOS,» dismantled a criminal organization whose members were engaged in the professional and ongoing commission of fraud related to subsidies, by submitting false declarations to receive agricultural subsidies from OPEKEPE.
To put an end to the illegal activity, a coordinated police operation was carried out on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in areas of Kozani and Agrinio, during which 14 people were arrested, including the alleged leader and the executive coordinator of the organization.
In the case file compiled regarding—as applicable—a criminal organization, fraud involving subsidies committed professionally and on a continuous basis, violations of firearms laws and the law on affidavits, as well as money laundering, includes 23 additional individuals and 4 legal entities, while two other individuals who have since passed away were also members of the criminal group. In addition, a relative of one of the arrested individuals was arrested for violating drug laws.
As reported by the Hellenic Police (ELAS), this was preceded by a months-long investigation by the Department for the Protection of Public Property and European Funds of the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution of Economic Crimes, which was carried out pursuant to an order from the competent prosecutor regarding the activities of criminal groups that were illegally receiving financial aid from OPEKEPE, by using false information.
According to the investigation by the «Greek FBI,» it emerged that the ringleader established and directed the criminal organization with the aim of obtaining illegal financial gain by submitting false Unified Aid Applications (E.A.E.) to OPEKEPE, both on his own behalf and on behalf of relatives and associates.
Regarding the ring’s modus operandi, according to the police, its members, in order to achieve their goal, operated from a common geographic hub, had family and professional ties with one another, and selected common—linked—Declaration Reception Centers (K.Y.D.), submitted applications with identical details (submission dates, common K.Y.D.s, alleged landlords, etc.), participated in legal entities managed by—and with the coordinator as their legal representative—while there was also a reciprocal relationship between them involving the declaration of fictitious lessors.
More specifically, the organization consisted of core and regional members, who acted in a coordinated manner and, between 2019 and 2024, submitted subsidy applications in which they falsely claimed to be cultivating or farming land and parcels as privately owned or leased. It was determined that at least one member of the organization continued these activities into 2025.
However, the police’s comprehensive investigation revealed that a large portion of the declared land areas did not correspond to the actual ownership status, as they belonged to public entities, local government agencies, Greek government agencies, renewable energy management companies, private enterprises, and other entities.
At the same time, members of the organization falsely presented themselves as lessors of agricultural plots to third-party applicants, even though these plots did not belong to them. In this way, they created a false pretense of legitimacy for submitting applications for financial assistance and illegally collecting subsidies.
Furthermore, they ensured that the illegally declared land was distributed among a large number of individuals and that different applications were submitted, with the aim, on the one hand, of maximizing illegal profits and, on the other hand, of hindering the audit work of the competent authorities.
The role of individuals associated with the Centers for the Receipt of Applications (K.Y.D.), through which the registration and finalization of the Single Aid Applications took place.
The organization utilized more than one affiliated Declaration Reception Center, alternating their use from year to year, with the aim of making it difficult to trace the common origin of the applications and to mislead administrative oversight.
As it turned out, two K.Y.D. employees played an active and leading role in the entire process of carrying out the criminal activity; at the same time, they also submitted their own fraudulent applications to the Agency.
In addition, the involvement of four legal entities and cooperative organizations further facilitated the recruitment of new members, the identification of beneficiaries, and the concealment of the true extent of the criminal activity, as it created a seemingly legitimate business environment around the individuals involved.
An analysis of the payment data collected as part of the investigation revealed that the total illegal financial gain derived by the criminal organization from receiving OPEKEP subsidiesE between 2019 and 2024 amounts to 2,466,179.59 euros.
Furthermore, the extensive financial and banking investigation revealed that in at least six cases, the unlawfully paid subsidies were credited to bank accounts in which the lead beneficiary was listed as a a joint account holder. An analysis of the cash flows revealed that part of the subsidies was withdrawn directly by him or transferred to other accounts linked to him, a fact that demonstrates his central role in the management of the illicit financial gains.
In addition, evidence has emerged of violations of tax laws amounting to approximately 2,700,000 euros, and the relevant findings will be forwarded to the competent tax authorities for further evaluation and investigation.
Overall, based on the inspections conducted at residences, vehicles, legal entities, and Declaration Reception Centers—with the assistance of officers from the Kozani Police Directorate—the following items, among others, were found and seized:
– 16,820 euros,
– 5 gold pounds,
– a number of related documents,
– a variety of bank cards,
– cell phones,
– external portable storage device (USB),
– handwritten notes,
– stamps, including one that was forged and bore a non-existent tax identification number,
– bank passbooks and
– 2 hunting rifles.
During the investigations, the following were also identified:
– 14 cannabis seedlings,
– cannabis with a total gross weight of 147.3 grams,
– a jar containing raw cannabis with a net weight of 60.1 grams and
– a metal grater containing cannabis residue.
A relative of one of the arrested individuals was arrested in connection with the narcotics that were found, and a separate case was filed against him for violating drug laws.
The detainees will be brought before the competent prosecuting authority.
