An extensive network involving illegal agricultural subsidies through OPEKEPE, with an alleged loot of roughly €1.7 million and activity spanning from 2019 to 2025, was uncovered by the investigation of the Financial Police and members of the “Greek FBI” in Crete.

At the center of the case are two individuals with crucial and complementary roles:
• Myron Hiletzakis, a well-known agricultural unionist
• Giorgos Lambrakis, accountant and director of the Heraklion Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (EAS), who is also the best man of PASOK president Nikos Androulakis.

According to reports, Hiletzakis allegedly held a leadership and coordinating role in the network, using his influence in the agricultural sector.

The involvement of these two individuals has reignited political confrontation: Lambrakis was a PASOK official until Friday afternoon, while Hiletzakis was known to have ties with the governing New Democracy party.

Among the arrested is also Lambrakis’s wife, Chrysanthi Koutantou, a lawyer by profession.

So far, 14 people have been arrested, and authorities are investigating a total of 42 individuals for their possible involvement. Many have already been brought in for questioning.

According to the current information, the network allegedly registered fake farmers in OPEKEPE’s system, who—based on falsified declarations—received subsidy payments.

The “godparent” connection with the PASOK president

The case took on a strong political dimension because Lambrakis and Koutantou were married with Nikos Androulakis as their best man.

This connection surfaced during the OPEKEPE parliamentary inquiry, when ND MP Makarios Lazaridis confronted PASOK MPs. Responding to Milena Apostolaki—who had mentioned the arrest of “an agricultural unionist, Mr. Hiletzakis, member of ND”—Lazaridis said:

A photograph of the wedding with Androulakis as best man was presented in the committee.

Apostolaki replied she had no details, but clarified: “If there is even the slightest suspicion of involvement of a PASOK member, they are immediately expelled.”

Meanwhile, PASOK president Androulakis is now under scrutiny for his ties to the arrested couple — only days after he had criticized Prime Minister Mitsotakis for having a “godparent connection” with Giorgos Xylouris (Frapé/Tzitzis), whose brother had been married 20 years ago by Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

Lambrakis expelled again

Under political pressure, PASOK announced the suspension of Lambrakis’s party membership. The secretary of the Central Political Committee, Andreas Spyropoulos, formally requested the suspension through the party’s internal ethics committee.

Notably, Lambrakis had previously been expelled in 2019 during Fofi Gennimata’s leadership, for supporting a SYRIZA-backed ticket in the Economic Chamber elections instead of the PASOK one. He later returned after he and his wife signed in support of Androulakis’s candidacy for the PASOK leadership.

The role of the agricultural unionist

Myron Hiletzakis is a public figure, frequently appearing on TV about agricultural matters and known for promoting organic products in Crete. He is also president of the National Union of Small Agricultural Cooperatives, a position which, according to authorities, gave him access to a broad network of producers and cooperatives.

Police believe he acted as a key coordinator in forming the group and directing actions to secure illegal subsidies through false or manipulated declarations submitted to OPEKEPE.

Another photo that emerged shows Hiletzakis and Lambrakis in a social event attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, further intensifying political debate.

Scope of the case

Fourteen people have been arrested so far, but according to police sources the case file includes 42 implicated individuals. The network appears to be centered in the Archanes area of Heraklion, and the investigation covers a six-year period.

Authorities are scrutinizing financial flows, submitted documents, and the mechanisms by which the illegal subsidies were approved and disbursed.

The investigation is ongoing, aiming for a full mapping of the network, determining responsibilities, and recovering the unlawfully obtained subsidies.