Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis has warned that further arrests are imminent in a widening crackdown on agricultural subsidy fraud, revealing that authorities have already froze €33 million ($34.7 million) in illegal payments.
Speaking in parliament, Mr. Chrysochoidis praised the newly formed Organized Crime Directorate—dubbed the "Greek FBI"—for its aggressive audit of the sector.
He confirmed that investigators have scrutinized over 6,000 tax identification numbers to uncover criminal networks siphoning EU and state funds.
"Two major cases have already been sent to justice, and more will follow soon," Mr. Chrysochoidis said.
The announcement follows the arrest of 15 suspects in Crete on Friday, including a prominent cooperative leader, for allegedly defrauding the state of €1.7 million. Since its inception 13 months ago, the special police unit has dismantled 157 criminal organizations and arrested 1,900 suspects across various sectors.
Mr. Chrysochoidis also used the address to defend police tactics against ongoing farmer protests. He angrily rejected opposition claims that officers used plastic bullets during recent clashes.
"Has there been a single injured farmer in the past 16 days?" Mr. Chrysochoidis asked lawmakers. "Where would we even find [plastic bullets]? For God’s sake!"
The crackdown comes as the government faces fierce pressure from opposition parties Syriza and PASOK, who accuse the administration of failing to protect the agricultural sector while pushing controversial reforms to transfer subsidy oversight to the tax authority.
Beyond financial crime, the minister highlighted a broader law-and-order push, noting that traffic deaths have dropped by 120 compared to last year and that police have filed nearly 11,000 cases related to illegal weapons possession in 2025.