Greek police and the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, HEDNO, have launched a joint operation to dismantle an alleged crime ring accused of large-scale electricity theft across nearly half the country.

The operation, which began this morning, is being carried out by the Northern Greece Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, part of the police service often described in Greek media as the “Greek FBI”, in cooperation with HEDNO.

According to initial reports, members of the alleged ring tampered with electricity meters at businesses and private homes in Attica, Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly and the Peloponnese.

Three alleged leading members of the organisation have so far been arrested, while a total of 105 people are accused of involvement in electricity theft.

The financial damage to HEDNO is estimated to exceed €9 million, according to the same sources.

Reports indicate that members of the group interfered with electricity meters in order to avoid normal billing. At this stage, however, investigators have not established whether those involved had any certified technical qualification, such as professional electrician status.