A well-organized criminal network allegedly involved in issuing illegal building permits was dismantled by the Hellenic Police in northern Greece, specifically in the Halkidiki region, following an extensive operation by the Internal Affairs Service.

During the operation, €1 million in cash was discovered and confiscated, and a total of 21 individuals were arrested, including a former mayor, 15 private citizens, and five town planners. The urban planning offices involved were located in the areas of Propontida and Sithonia.

The arrested individuals, including both urban planning officials and private professionals (engineers and architects), participated in architectural boards responsible for granting or denying permits based on the regulations applicable to each area.

The case came to light after a thorough investigation uncovered the network’s activities, which allegedly exploited the process of issuing building permits by offering “facilitation” in exchange for bribes. According to information from protothema.gr, approvals for permits were granted by the relevant board, which included several of the arrested individuals.

The criminal network reportedly provided services ranging from approving permits that did not meet legal requirements to fully processing illegal requests. With the appropriate financial compensation, the organization’s members ensured expedited processing, bypassing bureaucratic and legal hurdles.

Their operations involved cooperation with town planners who are alleged to have altered documents or approved unlawful requests, thereby creating a system that fully exploited the urban planning framework. Citizens seeking building permits or aiming to resolve unauthorized construction issues approached the network, paying significant sums for these services.