Greek authorities have dismantled a sprawling criminal network accused of defrauding the European Union’s agricultural subsidy system of nearly €20 million, in what investigators are calling one of the most sophisticated subsidy scams ever uncovered in the country. The coordinated operation, announced on October 22, led to the arrest of 37 individuals across Greece and exposed a criminal enterprise that systematically exploited loopholes in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for years.

According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the suspects used a complex web of falsified documents, fake livestock records, and bogus invoices to siphon funds intended to support genuine farmers. The group is believed to have operated since at least 2018, submitting fraudulent applications to claim subsidies for land, animals, and agricultural activity that did not exist. The estimated losses exceed €19.6 million ($22.7 million), funds that were meant to promote rural development, sustainable farming, and food security within the EU.

The network’s operations were anything but simple. Investigators said that the suspects carefully manipulated Greece’s subsidy system, exploiting administrative weaknesses and regional oversight gaps. Through falsified land ownership documents, they claimed subsidies for plots of land that were either already registered to legitimate farmers or, in some cases, did not exist at all. Similarly, livestock numbers were inflated on paper to qualify for higher payments under EU rules designed to support animal husbandry.

“The sophistication of the scheme suggests clear coordination and division of roles within the........

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