OPEKPE: 25-vehicle convoy delivers 37 detainees to GADA

With a convoy from 25 cars into the building GADA in the morning Thursday, 10/23/2025brought those detained in the case of illegal subsidies OPECPEPE. In total we are talking about 37 defendants, who are then planned to be transported to European prosecutor’s office in Athens on Loukareos street.

Let us remind you that police made arrests in Thessaloniki, Pelle, Edessa, Ioannina, Attica And in Creteexposing, according to the investigation, organized groupwhich systematically committed fraud to the detriment of economic interests European Union and the Greek economy, illegally receiving payments OPECPEPE. According to sources, the total volume of subsidies received reached 20 million eurosof which at least 5 million were considered illegal.

The detainees were taken to GADA. Among the key figures mentioned are 38 year old man from Yanitsywho introduced himself as a farmer and selected “undeclared” persons and plots, as well as 36 year old employee KΥD With role in processing applications.

Official message EΛ.AS.

According to Northern Greece Organized Crime Unitsthe group was engaged fraud regarding funds EU and the national budget using false information V Unified Applications for Assistance (EAE) for illegal obtaining agricultural subsidies from OPECPEPE.

10/22/2025 a coordinated operation was carried out in a number of regions (Thessaloniki, Pella, Imati, Heraklion (Crete), Athens, Ioannina, Santorini) by the Northern Division with the assistance of other services. Detained 36 participants (including supposed leaders) and one accountantwho collaborated with the group.

The investigation began on behalf of Greek Office of the European Delegated Prosecutors by episodes from April 2018 By May 2022and also based on information Department for Combating Economic Crimes. It turned out that the scheme continued to operate to this day with the same methods and leaders.

Scheme and methods

• Search suitable but not declared previously agricultural plots and pastures, their fictitious inclusion in E9 third parties (members of the group or “showcases”). Entries were often deleted or “corrected” with references to “updating”, “ΑΤΑΚ“, “erroneous submission”.
• Innings EAE through KΥD or using TaxisNet codesexploitation of procedural “windows” and the experience of managers. In 2025 they were doing mass declarations of “orphaned” plots with “white sheets” instead of confirmations to circumvent the requirements (ΑΤΑΚ) and get emergency payments.
• Statement false livestock V EAE (often in categories with high odds) that did not coincide with National Registerto increase “eligibility” and grazing area.
• Cooperation with accountants and employees KΥD for preparation and submission of applications, registration fictitious lease agreements.
• Often the “declared” areas were located beyond reasonable reach from the addresses of the “owners”, which excluded real farming.

Participant Roles

• 38 year old – prospective leader: coordination, search for sites, submission of EAE on behalf of members through their Taxisnetrewards, “legalization” through betting, buying a car, transfers and a luxurious lifestyle.
• 30 year old – her accounts were used for transactions, her IP addressesfrom which EAE was edited/submitted.
• 68 year old — an intermediary who transferred amounts to the leader’s accounts; his accounts were also used for “legalization”.
• 36 year old – employee KΥDprocessed EAE, contributed fictitious e-lease from own and related IPs; distributed the money and transferred the amounts to the “top.”
• 54 year old accountant — appeared in the filings in A.A.D.E. documents, transferred funds to “false owners”, received money from the leader.
• 11 people — “basic” participants, registered as owners/lessors of fictitious objects; changed their property status, submitted false EAEs, received illegal payments, and carried out transactions with the “top.”
• 26 people — other participants who submitted EAE with fictitious assets and/or livestock for the sake of illegal payments.

“Legalization” of income

• Transfer of payments to the accounts of “false” owners/livestock owners; many did not declare agricultural income in 2023–2024.
• Further translation splitting by relatives and affiliates to sever ties with the criminal source.
• Usage intermediaries for withdrawals/deposits, registration fictitious invoices (discovered 393 for an amount over 1.7 million euros).
• Application betting accounts and fintech applications that made tracing difficult; then purchase expensive assets (cars, motorcycles, equipment, watches, jewelry).
• Usage cryptocurrency cardsfictitious transfers of property, changes of addresses and even divorce to avoid seizure of assets.

Seized and arrested

Amounts of money found on 37 people arrested in the OPEKEPE case / astynomia.gr

During house searches, two KΥDaccounting office, store and three companies seized: 14 cars, 4 motorcycles And harvester as income from PD, 2 crypto cards, jewelry and watches, 11 phones, computers, carriers, printset tag for sheep/cattle, documents and records, as well as 34,720 euros. One of the defendants has 22 g raw hemp (separate material is excited).

14 cars confiscated after 37 arrests in connection with OPECPE / astynomia.gr

Besides, Anti-Money Laundering Agency frozen 29 bank accounts (approx. 120,000 euros), bank deposit box and betting accounts, which are subject to detailed verification.

Total damage to interests EU And Greek state With 2018 year is estimated at least at 5,017,662 euros and is expected to exceed 10 million euros after a full audit.

Detained under articles about creation of an organized criminal group, subsidy fraud, receiving a false certificate, preventing and suppressing money launderingand also violation of the law on responsible declarations will be delivered to the appropriate European Delegated Prosecutor.

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