A major agricultural subsidy fraud ring in Crete has been dismantled by the Hellenic Financial Police, revealing a sophisticated yet brazen scheme that channelled public funds into bank accounts belonging even to deceased individuals.
Authorities uncovered that illegal subsidies were being deposited into the account of a man who had passed away, with members of the organisation systematically withdrawing the funds from ATMs and dividing the proceeds among themselves. The tactic formed part of a wider network of fraudulent activity linked to the OPEKEPE (the Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy Aid Schemes).
Investigators described the operation as both simple and infuriating in its design. Members of the ring persuaded citizens to apply for agricultural subsidies through a specific KYD (Centre for Declaration Submission), offering them up to €1,000 per year as an incentive. Once the subsidies were approved and deposited into controlled accounts, including that of the deceased individual, key organisers siphoned off the funds.
The breadth of the fraud shocked authorities. Early analysis indicates that more than 90 per cent of all subsidy claims connected to the ring were illegitimate. Central to the operation was the owner of the implicated KYD office, who had direct access to bank cards, including that of the deceased account holder, allowing him to make routine ATM withdrawals for the group’s benefit.
The Financial Police began investigating approximately six months ago. The case is also linked to the recent high-profile raid on OPEKEPE’s Athens headquarters, signalling a deepening probe into systemic corruption within agricultural subsidy mechanisms.
The organisation is believed to consist of 42 members, including farmers, accountants, lawyers and a well-known trade union figure. So far 15 individuals have been arrested, and more arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
The operation is being conducted under a preliminary inquiry ordered by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is treating the matter with high priority given its cross-border funding implications. Those arrested are expected to face severe charges, including felony-level fraud, with penalties likely to reflect the scale and duration of the illicit scheme.
