A sweeping investigation by the Economic Crimes Unit (SDOE) of the Hellenic Police (ELAS) has uncovered widespread fraud and systematic misuse of public funds from OPEKEPE, the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid.

Extensive checks on 6,354 suspicious Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) revealed that 1,036 individuals had illegally received agricultural subsidies worth a staggering €22.7 million. Authorities have already frozen the assets of those involved, while audits continue to close loopholes and safeguard funds for legitimate farmers and livestock breeders.

The Fraud Mechanism

Presenting the findings, Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis outlined the main methods used by offenders, which included:

• Falsification of land ownership titles.
• Use of land belonging to deceased owners without legal inheritance rights.
• False declarations of livestock ownership.
• Applications that failed to meet eligibility criteria.
• Claims on parcels of land outside the applicants’ place of residence or professional activity.

Crete Tops the List

Crete recorded the highest concentration of illegal claims: of the 1,036 fraudulent TINs, 850 were traced to the island, siphoning off €17.2 million—almost three-quarters of the total amount uncovered.

In Western Macedonia, just seven beneficiaries managed to collect over €1.34 million in subsidies, while in Attica, 46 offenders received €761,000.

Fraudsters and Their Gains

Among the most egregious cases highlighted:

• A 72-year-old from Kozani illegally pocketed €980,000.
• A 69-year-old from Trikala received €620,000, with total subsidies exceeding €1 million.
• A 28-year-old from Crete gained €275,000.
• A 48-year-old from Crete obtained €200,000.
• A 46-year-old from Agrinio received €110,000, with subsidies surpassing €250,000.
• A 46-year-old from Metsovo benefited illegally by €110,000, also surpassing €250,000 in total subsidies.
• An 83-year-old from Kozani secured €100,000 in illegal funds.

Regional Breakdown of Illegal Subsidies

• Crete: 850 cases | €17,234,489
• Western Macedonia: 7 cases | €1,314,115
• Central Macedonia: 53 cases | €996,419
• Thessaly: 20 cases | €989,278
• Attica: 46 cases | €761,250
• Central Greece: 22 cases | €341,217
• Epirus: 4 cases | €228,353
• Ionian Islands: 2 cases | €40,950
• Peloponnese: 5 cases | €64,108
• Northern Aegean: 2 cases | €27,173
• South Aegean: 1 case | €12,941

Total: 1,036 fraudulent beneficiaries siphoned €22,667,522.

What’s Next

Investigations remain ongoing, with authorities determined to ensure that EU and national agricultural subsidies are directed exclusively to legitimate beneficiaries. “We are closing the backdoors that allowed millions to be stolen from farmers and livestock breeders,” said Chrysochoidis.