Economic Police of Greece with the participation European Prosecutor’s Office carried out a large-scale operation against an organized network that received OPECPEPE agricultural subsidies based on fictitious statements. Detained since the early morning of October 22 37 people V Thessaloniki, Pelle, Jannice, Ioannina, Attica and on Crete.
How the scheme worked
According to the investigation, the attackers entered the electronic system OPECPEPEfound unregistered land plots and included them in statements under the names of dummy persons. Fictitious leases and fraudulent agreements allowed them to issue grants on behalf of people who did not have land or the right to support. The scheme operated from at least 2018 to 2022, with total turnover estimated at 20 million euros.
Arrested and network leaders
Among those detained are two alleged organizers: 38 year old a man arrested in Giannitsa, and 36 year old employee of the document reception center in Crete. According to police, they distributed roles between intermediaries and tenants, and also received a share of illegal payments.
Statement by Minister Tsiaras
Minister Tsiaras: “Let’s go to the end” – the investigation into the OPECPE scandal is gaining momentum pic.twitter.com/2YFlJVfrND
— Athens News (@russianathens) October 22, 2025
From Kalamata minister of agriculture Kostas Tsiaras stated: “We are going to the end in cleaning up OPECPEPE. This is the first time that the state is faced with such interests, and we will not stop.” He emphasized that European funds should only be sent real farmersand not to fictitious recipients. The minister also confirmed that European Commission has already sent two official warnings about the risk of losing funding in excess of 3 billion euros per year.
What’s next
Tsiaras reported that until the end of October compensation payments to farmers in Thessaly for feed will be completed and crop inspections will be completed. The government expects to pay the bulk of agricultural subsidies until the end of the yearemphasizing that control will now be “tight and constant.”
Final conclusion: the scam involving fictitious plots and fraudulent contracts has become a challenge to the subsidy system. But now the government is promising to bring the case to fruition for the first time – with real verdicts, not just news headlines.
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