Greek authorities arrest 39 in EU agricultural subsidy fraud investigation

Greek authorities have detained 39 people in connection with a large-scale fraud scheme involving European Union agricultural subsidies, state broadcaster LRT reports, citing Greek officials and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

On Tuesday, 17 individuals were arrested as part of the ongoing probe, following the detention of 22 others on Monday. Dozens more were taken into custody last October during the same investigation.

The EPPO has described the case as a “massive and systematic” fraud and money-laundering operation linked to the distribution of EU farming subsidies in Greece. Preliminary estimates place the financial damage at over €19 million.

The scandal has already prompted the resignation of three ministers and several deputy ministers from the conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.