OPEKEPE: Illegal Subsidies - €17 Million in Crete

In Crete, 850 out of 1,036 tax identification numbers (AFM) were found to have received illegal subsidies from OPEKEPE, totaling €17 million out of the €22 million discovered overall.

According to the data, in Western Macedonia, 7 AFMs illegally received over €1.34 million. In total, 343 AFMs received subsidies over €20,000, while 693 received less than €20,000.

The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, announced the freezing of assets of AFM holders exhibiting fraudulent behavior.

The five methods of fraud identified by the Hellenic Police (ELAS) are:

• Falsification of legal ownership of declared agricultural plots.
• False declaration of ownership of agricultural plots of deceased owners.
• False declaration of livestock ownership.
• Submission of incomplete applications.
• False declaration of agricultural land exploitation outside the place of residence.

A special police team is being created to continue the investigation.