Greek authorities on Monday announced arrests involving what they called two separate criminal organizations engaged in large-scale fraud scheme against the country’s National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY).
Following a months-long investigation, a large-scale operation was carried out on Friday, resulting in the arrest of 16 suspects, who were engaged in fraudulent prescription of medications.
The suspects include four physicians from public health facilities in Attica and Boeotia (Viotia) prefectures, the owners and employees of eight pharmacies in the greater Athens area, a pharmaceutical sales representative, and an individual who acted as a middleman.
The purported illegal activities of the two groups began, according to police, at least as far back as January 2020. Investigators found that the two groups shared a similar modus operandi, had common objectives, and in some cases, even overlapping members who operated simultaneously.
The members of these organizations issued fraudulent prescriptions using the social security numbers of individuals, mostly foreign nationals, who were either no longer in the country, incarcerated, or living in shelters.
To maximize profits, the criminals also exploited the social security numbers of uninsured persons, as this allowed them to avoid contributing any co-payments to EOPYY.
After issuing the fake prescriptions, the illegally prescribed medications were then distributed to customers, both within Greece and abroad. The proceeds from this illegal activity were either laundered through fake retail receipts or stored in safety deposit boxes in banking institutions.
Authorities report that they have uncovered the fraudulent use of 3,516 social security numbers, which resulted in the issuance of 90,186 fake prescriptions, so far. The estimated financial loss to the national health system exceeds 3.5 million.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that the owner of a pharmaceutical warehouse had been distributing medications that posed a potential health risk, with a portion of these drugs being sourced from pharmacies connected to the criminal organizations.
(ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΑΣΤΥΝΟΜΙΑΣ/EUROKINISSI)
During searches conducted at residences, storage facilities, medical offices, pharmacies, public health facilities, and bank safety deposit boxes, authorities uncovered and seized over 9,000 packages of illegally prescribed medications. Among the seized drugs were substances containing narcotics. Additionally, large sums of money and gold bars were also confiscated.
The arrested individuals have been brought before the relevant prosecutorial authority and referred for further judicial investigation.
