17 More Suspects Detained in Greece's EU Farm Subsidy Fraud Case

Greek authorities announced the arrest of 17 additional suspects in an ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of millions of euros in European Union agricultural subsidies. This latest operation brings the total number of detainees this week to 39, building upon dozens arrested in October 2025.

The police operation, led by the anti-organized crime unit in the port city of Thessaloniki, focused on two farmer support centers (KYD) in Thessaloniki and Serres. Authorities suspect that accomplices used these centers since 2019 to illegally claim agricultural payments. The alleged members of the criminal network were apprehended in Thessaloniki, Serres, Kilkis, and Athens.

Police estimate the network's illicit gains exceeded 4.5 million euros. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) had previously announced in 2025 that it was investigating "massive and systematic" fraud and suspected money laundering related to the allocation of agricultural subsidies to Greek farmers through the former OPEKEPE payment agency. Preliminary estimates placed the damages at over 19 million euros.

This scandal has already led to the resignations of three ministers and several deputy ministers from the conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.