17 arrests for illegal OPEKEPE subsidies in Thessaloniki, Serres, Kilkis and Athens
Greek FBI agents arrested 17 people across four cities for fraud against the EU through illegal OPEKEPE subsidies. The estimated financial gain exceeds 4.5 million euros.
Operation against illegal subsidy network — 17 arrests across four cities
A major operation by the Organised Crime Confrontation Subdirectorate of Northern Greece — known as the Greek FBI — has been underway since the morning, according to ERT. The aim is to dismantle a criminal organisation that unlawfully obtained subsidies from OPEKEPE.
So far, 17 people have been arrested: 14 in Thessaloniki, one in Serres, one in Kilkis and one in Athens. The estimated illegal financial gain is calculated at over 4.5 million euros.
Among those arrested are two managers of declaration reception centres, whilst the others are farmers. According to ERT, the organisation was active from 2019 to the present.
The two managers had access to OPEKEPE maps and identified vacant agricultural plots that had not been declared by their legitimate owners. Subsequently, the other defendants declared these plots as their own, claimed that they were cultivating them and in this way obtained unjustified subsidies.
The investigation began from traces of the two managers of the declaration centres in Thessaloniki and Serres, and from there the entire network was gradually uncovered. Members of the organisation face charges of fraud against the financial interests of the European Union, as well as for false declaration.
A similar operation was carried out earlier the same day in Crete.
Source: ERT