Revelations continue to emerge about the activities of the three men arrested in the Gargalianoi area of Messinia following an investigation by the Fire Service’s Arson Investigation Directorate.

The suspects—a 52-year-old village head, his 44-year-old brother, and a 66-year-old firefighter serving under a five-year contract—face charges, depending on their individual roles, of arson, extortion and attempted extortion, as well as repeated acts of property damage and theft committed jointly.

According to the investigation, the accused were responsible for distributing irrigation water in the region and allegedly demanded payments from farmers in order to supply water to their crops.

The indictment states that farmers who refused to pay or failed to meet their demands were subjected to threats and acts of retaliation. The suspects allegedly set fire to olive groves and other cultivated fields, with some of the fires later spreading into nearby forest areas.

The three men are also accused of setting fire to storage buildings and farmhouses, as well as destroying or stealing agricultural equipment and farm produce.

The case file includes allegations relating to seven fires in total—three forest fires and four agricultural fires.

Authorities are also investigating whether the suspects’ alleged activities were linked to the collection of agricultural subsidies. According to the case file, cited by SKAI television, the men allegedly pressured or coerced farmers into transferring or leasing agricultural land to them, allowing the suspects to declare the land in their own names and collect the corresponding subsidy payments.

The investigation lasted approximately two years and relied on witness testimony, evidence gathered from the fire scenes and other attacks, intelligence, and technical surveillance of the suspects. Authorities also conducted lawful monitoring of communications to map the group’s activities and contacts.

After the investigation was completed and the case file was submitted to the prosecutor, arrest warrants were issued. The three suspects were arrested during coordinated operations, while simultaneous searches were carried out at their homes.

A fourth individual, a farmer, has also been charged in connection with the case, though only with misdemeanor offenses.