OPEKEPE scandal: Two farmers illegally received €1.7 million in agricultural aid
A major corruption scandal has erupted involving OPEKEPE (Greece’s Agricultural Payments and Control Agency). An investigation by the Anti-Money Laundering Authority revealed that two farmers, primarily from the Thessaly region, illegally received a total of €1.7 million in agricultural subsidies.
🔍 Key Findings:
One farmer illegally obtained €1.4 million between 2019 and 2024.
The second received €300,000 from 2020 to 2024.
Information was provided to AML Authority head Haralambos Vourliotis by European Prosecutors.
One farmer suspiciously applied for subsidies through Rethymno, Crete, despite residing in Thessaly. Another striking detail is that the payments were received in cash, not via bank transfers, and later invested in cryptocurrencies and photovoltaic (solar energy) systems.
📑 The comprehensive reports have been forwarded to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, while Vourliotis, a former Deputy Supreme Court Prosecutor, ordered the freezing of all assets linked to the suspects.
🔒 Assets Seized:
For the €1.4 million recipient:
All bank accounts
Two safety deposit boxes
Eight properties
A luxury Mercedes and a hybrid BMW
For the €300,000 recipient:
All bank accounts and safety deposit boxes
Bonds and shares
Two agricultural lands
The case remains under investigation and is currently a priority file for European prosecutors.
