Greek police announced the dismantling of a criminal organisation that systematically defrauded both the European Union and the Greek state by falsely claiming agricultural subsidies. A coordinated operation on May 25 across the Attica region and Crete resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects, while a further 116 individuals remain under active investigation.

Authorities estimate that between 2019 and 2024 the scheme caused losses of at least 2.7 million euros to public funds — a figure that does not yet account for fraudulent claims submitted in 2025. Those arrested face charges including formation of a criminal organisation, subsidy fraud, false declaration and money laundering.

According to investigators, the network was established in 2019 and operated with clearly defined roles among its members. At its core were two accountants who exploited their knowledge of the subsidy application process administered by OPEKEPE, the Greek agency overseeing EU farming aid disbursements. They recruited managers of Declaration Reception Centres who identified parcels of land whose real owners had not registered them with authorities. Fictitious lease agreements were then constructed around these plots, allowing members to appear as legitimate tenants or lessors and claim EU agricultural subsidies on land they did not genuinely farm.

The arrested individuals are expected to appear before the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Athens, reflecting the cross-border dimension of the fraud given its impact on EU funds.

In a parallel but separate case, a court in Serres, northern Greece, on the same day convicted 13 of 25 defendants for similar subsidy fraud totalling 250,000 euros, with sentences ranging from five to 26 months, suspended for three years.