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2026-05-19 20:31:36
Crete is popularly perceived as a tourist paradise, a land of olive groves, Minoan palaces, and a leisurely life in the rhythm of siga-siga . But sometimes, beneath this idyllic postcard, a much darker reality emerges, reminiscent of a Hollywood gangster movie. Residents of the mountainous regions of Amari and Vorizia, where for years the rules of the Sicilian countryside prevailed, have learned this lesson.
The Greek police, in cooperation with the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office, have just dismantled a structure that local media bluntly dubbed the "family mafia."
The mechanism was strikingly simple, yet incredibly brazen. The family mafia was headed by a 43-year-old uncle, supported by two nephews who terrorized the local community, systematically seizing agricultural land and pastures belonging to small farmers. What was the purpose of these operations? The answer lies in Brussels funds.
Properties seized by force and threat were reported to the Greek payment agency (OPEKEPE) as their own. To maximize profits, the "enterprising" family declared virtual flocks of sheep in the IACS system, far exceeding their actual numbers. This fraudulent scheme resulted in them swindling €586,000 in direct subsidies in just five years (2021–2025).
The arrested mafia leaders lived in Vorizia, but their activities extended as far as Amari in the Rethymno prefecture. The criminals had no qualms about those who tried to resist and refused to surrender their land. The range of persuasion methods was wide, from classic blackmail and beatings to brutal acts of vandalism. The case files include such spectacular cases of retaliation as the felling of 134 ancient olive trees with a chainsaw in the settlement of Sata, and the destruction of 400 vines with electric shears in the village of Fourfoura. Material losses from agricultural damage alone are estimated at over €200,000. Add to this the arson attacks on the cars of rebellious farmers, and we have a complete picture of the terror being inflicted on the region. The number of victims of the criminal family is currently estimated at at least 40. Tellingly, the "family mafia" had no qualms about destroying and intimidating their own relatives, if they happened to own land suitable for extorting subsidies.
In Vorizia and two villages in the Amari commune that were targeted by this criminal organization, fear of its activities was widespread. Their residents were terrified, but for almost five years they didn't speak out about the terror they had become victims of. The fear was so paralyzing that one of the victims abandoned all her possessions and relatives several years ago and fled the village to escape the constant threats and immense pressure.
The detainees were charged with a long list of serious offences, including:
The arrest of the main suspect took place under rather unusual circumstances – the 43-year-old was arrested by police in Athens, just outside the hospital he had gone to with his wife. Police arrested the remaining members of the family gang early Monday morning in Vorizia, Phaistos.
You're probably wondering how the police discovered the mafia. This leads to events that took place in Vorizia a few months ago. On November 1, 2025, a shooting took place there, leaving two people dead. At the time, there was talk of a vendetta and generational conflicts. The police then launched a lengthy investigation, during which investigators uncovered the existence of the mafia.
The defense, represented by attorney Theonymfi Berki, immediately launched a counterattack, building a narrative of outrage. The back-and-forth of arguments from the over 2,000-page case file has already begun. According to the lawyer, the accused are legally operating farmers who respect others' property, and their presence in Amari is based on lease agreements, which will be presented to the court. Berki criticized the very fact that the arrest warrants were issued, arguing that her clients had no intention of fleeing, and described the arrest of the father of nine outside the hospital as "inhumane and cruel." She also sarcastically addressed journalists, saying: "Of course, it offends you that three farmers are from the Vorizia region, but that means nothing more."
This is, of course, just a clever attempt to divert attention – after all, the specific allegations in the police files are much more striking than the suspects’ origins: burned cars, cut-down olive groves and over half a million euros that, strangely enough, evaporated from the EU budget.
The accused have until Friday to prepare their official statements before the court in Rethymno. This case undoubtedly damages the image of the direct subsidy control system, demonstrating how easily virtual flocks of sheep and lawlessness can milk the European budget.
2026-05-19 20:31:36
Komentarze
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No to wyobrażam sobie co będzie jak ta 9-tka dzieci oskarżonego szefa dorośnie!
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Tadeusz Chowaniak Pewnie historia zatoczy koło.
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