Greek authorities have pressed serious charges against 16 individuals arrested in Crete in connection with an alleged organized scheme to fraudulently claim agricultural subsidies from OPEKEPE, the country’s agricultural payments agency.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged the suspects with seven felony offenses, including forming and directing a criminal organization, committing large-scale fraud, aiding and abetting fraud exceeding €120,000, defrauding European Union and Greek public funds, and laundering illicit proceeds.
Fifteen of the 16 detainees were transported late Friday night from the Heraklion Police Headquarters under heavy police escort to the port, where they boarded a ferry to Piraeus. From there, they were taken directly to the European Public Prosecutor’s office in Athens. The suspects have reportedly denied all charges.
Modus Operandi
Investigators say the group operated with a structured hierarchy, assigning distinct roles to members. The scheme allegedly involved submitting false applications for agricultural subsidies, claiming ownership of land parcels they did not control—sometimes inherited from deceased individuals—and reporting livestock that did not exist. Some plots listed were far from the applicants’ homes, temporarily appearing in official records before being removed.
Bank accounts linked to the applications were often registered under the names of senior members or even deceased individuals, with funds still active in some cases. Authorities identified 11 such accounts as part of the probe.
Employees at four Agricultural Declarations Reception Centers (KYD) reportedly played a key role in submitting and finalizing 143 fraudulent applications covering the years 2019–2025. Additionally, accountants and other financial professionals allegedly assisted in managing the illicit flow of funds.
The case marks one of the most significant agricultural subsidy investigations in recent years, highlighting vulnerabilities in the administration of EU and national agricultural aid.
