Greek police arrest party leader Filippos Kampouris in 5 million euro social security fraud probe
Financial crimes officers in Attica detained eight individuals, including LAOS party president Filippos Kampouris and his wife, over a scheme that accumulated unpaid e-EFKA contributions since 2021.
Coordinated police raids across Attica
The Financial Crimes Prosecution Sub-Directorate of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (DAOE) initiated an extensive enforcement action across several municipalities in Attica during the morning hours of Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The targeted action aimed to dismantle a structured criminal organization implicated in systematic fraud against the national electronic social security agency, e-EFKA, alongside substantial tax evasion. Law enforcement officers executed multiple coordinated arrest warrants across the capital region as the operation unfolded. By Tuesday morning, authorities had secured the arrests of eight individuals linked to the syndicate. The suspects detained in the sweep comprise accountants, independent business owners, designated frontmen, and individuals identified by investigators as holding central leadership roles in the group.
Arrest of party president and alleged ringleaders
Among the individuals taken into custody during the morning raids are Filippos Kampouris and his wife, both designated by law enforcement as the alleged leaders of the criminal network. Kampouris is an active television presenter, journalist, and the president of the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) political party. According to preliminary case files, investigators believe the couple directed the organization's overarching financial movements and coordinated the roles of subordinate members. Their apprehension took place alongside the detention of professional accountants and intermediaries who handled the practical administration of the enterprise. The Hellenic Police (ELAS) indicated that formal public announcements detailing the full evidentiary record will follow once all related investigative proceedings in Attica conclude.
Mechanics of the shell company scheme
Investigative findings indicate that the criminal network established its operational structure in 2021, maintaining continuous activity over the subsequent five years. The organization operated by registering commercial enterprises in the names of straw persons who served as nominal owners and legal managers. These front entities conducted business activities while systematically failing to submit mandatory employee and employer social insurance contributions to e-EFKA. When accumulated contribution liabilities reached significant amounts, the organizers formally dissolved the companies or abandoned corporate operations entirely. This cycle of creating, abandoning, and closing entities allowed the principals to siphon funds while leaving uncollectible debt registered to individuals without financial assets.
- Criminal network initiates operation creating shell companies under frontmen to evade contributions
- Financial crimes division arrests eight suspects including Filippos Kampouris across Attica
Fiscal losses and investigation status
The financial damage inflicted on Greek public accounts involves both unpaid insurance liabilities and related tax evasion. Direct financial losses suffered by e-EFKA from unpaid social security contributions exceed 1.5 million euros over the operational period. Broader non-compliance and tax evasion linked to the shell network bring total estimated damages to the Greek state to more than 5 million euros. Specialised officers from the Financial Crimes Prosecution Sub-Directorate continue auditing seized accounting books, banking records, and corporate registry filings across Attica. The operational phase of the investigation remains underway as police verify whether additional accomplices or front companies contributed to the accumulated fiscal shortfall.
