Rethymno: Ten arrests for livestock subsidy fraud and drug trafficking in Mylopótamos
A criminal organisation of ten people in Rethymno carried out livestock subsidy fraud and distributed drugs. Eleven cannabis plants and €1,850 were seized.
Criminal network dismantled for livestock subsidy fraud and drug offences in Rethymno
Ten people — eight Greeks and two foreign nationals — were arrested on Saturday, 19 September in Crete as part of a broad police operation against a criminal organisation operating in Mylopótamos, Rethymno, according to In.gr.
According to evidence gathered by the Drug Prosecution Department of the Rethymno Sub-Directorate for Crime Prosecution and Investigation, the accused had organised themselves into a gang that perpetrated fraud in livestock subsidies and simultaneously distributed drugs. Part of the illegal proceeds were channelled into the purchase of moveable and immoveable property.
Police officers from the Mylopótamos and Rethymno Police Operations Department, the Special Counter-Terrorism Unit of Crete, as well as the Crime Prevention and Suppression Teams of Rethymno and Heraklion participated in the operation.
During searches of residences, sheep pens and other locations used by the network, a cannabis cultivation site containing 11 cannabis plants of up to three metres in height was discovered in a specially adapted space near a sheep pen. Two foreign nationals were found in the same location, who were residing illegally in the country and were in possession of a quantity of cannabis.
In total, a sum of €1,850 was seized as proceeds from criminal activity, as well as numerous invoices and other supporting documents.
During inspections of the sheep pens, violations of the police regulation on livestock theft were identified: the number of sheep and goats counted was less than that stated in the livestock subsidy declarations. On 30 July 2026, during an inspection by the competent services, a member of the organisation — who did not own his own flock — falsely presented sheep and goats transferred from another member's flock.
Members of the organisation were also identified for damage to olive trees and work machinery owned by a Greek citizen, as well as for the theft of work machinery, acts which took place in June 2026 and on 13 September 2026 respectively.
The charges facing the arrested individuals include conspiracy to form a criminal organisation, livestock subsidy fraud, violations of legislation on drugs, weapons and foreign nationals, tax evasion, damage to third-party property, theft and livestock theft. The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Drug Prosecution Department of the Rethymno Sub-Directorate for Crime Prosecution and Investigation.
Source: In.gr