A new case of fraud involving OPEKEPE agricultural subsidies came to light on Wednesday (June 4). Authorities made 13 arrests in Kozani and Agrinio, while a total of 39 people are charged with illegally collecting European funds.
The financial gain is reported to exceed 2.5 million euros.
The accused are said to have followed a method reminiscent of that used by the rings recently uncovered in Crete and Northern Greece.
They identified undeclared land, submitted false applications, and then illegally received European and national subsidies.
The ring’s pyramid scheme
A major producer in Kozani is said to have played a key role , gathering information and identifying the individuals who would participate in the million-euro schemes. According to reports, a KYD administrator in Agrinio was a direct accomplice. He is alleged to have facilitated the declaration process.
The news of the arrest of an individual in connection with the OPEKEPE scandal in Agrinio came as a bolt from the blue. Farmers in the region are demanding that the stolen funds be returned to the producers.
The case file also includes a former KYD employee in Kozani, who is alleged to have participated in submitting data but was not arrested, as it was determined that he had recently withdrawn from the ring; however, he is included among the defendants.
The vice president of the Federation of Agricultural Associations of Aetolia-Acarnania, Ioannis Karnavias, stated: “The subsidies should have gone to production, not to crooks. We say they should be caught, and whoever has stolen must be held accountable.”
The defendants followed a method reminiscent of the schemes recently uncovered in Northern Greece and Crete. First, they identified undeclared land, submitted false applications, and received illegal national and European subsidies.
The illegal financial gain is estimated to exceed 2.5 million euros, while the investigation has also uncovered tax violations that are being examined by the relevant authorities.
The 13 individuals arrested in Agios Dimitrios are being interrogated at the General Police Directorate of Western Macedonia in the city of Kozani, while the individual arrested in Agrinio is also expected to arrive for preliminary questioning.
Investigations by the Greek FBI are continuing to identify any other criminal networks that were active during the period from 2019 to 2024 under investigation.
SOURCE: ERT