Eight ‘red-flagged’ tax IDs in Eastern Macedonia & Thrace for illegal subsidies from OPEKEPE
Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis announced the findings of an investigation into the OPEKEPE subsidy scandal, revealing a map showing the distribution of “red-flagged” Tax Identification Numbers (AFMs) across the country.
So far, authorities have identified 6,354 AFMs under investigation, with 1,036 audit reports issued and €22,667,522.17 in illegally obtained funds.
The largest concentration of fraud cases was found in Crete, with 850 AFMs responsible for unlawfully collecting around €17.2 million. Other notable cases include:
Central Macedonia: 53 AFMs, nearly €1 million
Thessaly: 20 AFMs, nearly €1 million
Attica: 46 AFMs, €761,250.80
Eastern Macedonia & Thrace: 8 AFMs, €274,678.66
Western Macedonia: 7 AFMs, €1.31 million
Western Greece: 16 AFMs, €382,544.81
Peloponnese: 5 AFMs, €64,108.36
Central Greece: 22 AFMs, €341,217.46
South Aegean: 1 AFM, €12,941.07
Epirus: 4 AFMs, €228,353.99
Ionian Islands: 2 AFMs, €40,950.39
North Aegean: 2 AFMs, €37,173.35
A preliminary judicial inquiry has been ordered to gather evidence and determine whether criminal charges should be filed for offenses including:
- Participation in a criminal organization/conspiracy,
- Large-scale subsidy fraud (single and repeated),
- Forgery (individual and joint, single and repeated),
- Incitement or complicity in the above crimes.
Minister Chrysochoidis added that several investigative reports have already been forwarded to prosecutors, leading to the freezing of property rights for those who unlawfully received subsidies.
The investigation analyzed 819,620 subsidy applications from 2019 to 2024 and uncovered methods such as:
- Falsifying land ownership records,
- Claiming plots belonging to deceased owners without inheritance rights,
- False declarations of livestock ownership,
- Submitting ineligible applications,
- Declaring farmland outside the applicants’ residence or area of activity.
A special police task force under the Organized Crime Directorate will continue the investigation, focusing on:
- Updating fraud-detection criteria for AFMs,
- Identifying organized criminal groups involved,
Detecting new fraud methods used to exploit the subsidy system.
