Two key suspects in Thessaloniki tax evasion ring remain at large as AADE chief files complaint over leaks

Operation and suspects still at large

Two central figures investigated under the Achyranthropoi operation remain sought by the Financial Transaction Control Units (DEOS) of AADE and the Hellenic Police, even though the final operational stage in Thessaloniki has been completed. The operation began on the evening of Thursday, 5 November 2026 under the coordination of the competent prosecutorial authorities. The two men are businesspeople active in night entertainment and catering, who are being investigated for possible involvement in a case of unpaid taxes and social security contributions.

Reports published during the operation

Two consecutive reports from one website published information about the operation on Friday, 6 November 2026, while it was still under way. The articles named the two sought individuals only by their initials, and also named AADE officials who had traveled to Thessaloniki to coordinate the searches, detentions and arrests. According to AADE, publishing this information could have affected the smooth running of the operation and created risks for the safety of the officers involved.

Pitsilis's response

Right after the publication, Pitsilis contacted Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and asked for police assistance in locating and bringing in the people still being sought. He also informed the Supreme Court prosecutor and filed a criminal complaint against all those responsible with the Athens Court of First Instance prosecutor. The complaint asks for examination of possible breaches of official secrecy, breaches of the secrecy of criminal pre-investigation, and harboring a criminal.

“For almost eleven years as head of the country's Tax and Customs Administration, I have never turned to the courts against a journalist or media outlet over malicious or insulting…”

In his statement, Pitsilis said the case does not concern criticism. It concerns the publication of information linked to an operation in progress, at a time when key investigations were still under way and specific people were being sought. He framed the issue as the effectiveness of the investigations, the safeguarding of evidence and the safety of officers working in the field.

Wider crackdown on shell companies

In a separate interview, Pitsilis said some people have exploited the simplified procedures for setting up businesses to create company structures with no real commercial activity. He said the cases uncovered have given the tax administration specific data and features for identifying suspicious cases, and that an additional review process is being considered when signs of abusive use of corporate structures appear. Reports cited by one outlet put the Thessaloniki ring at debts of 203 million euros, involving more than 2,000 companies, 1,300 front persons and about 700 people said to have pulled the strings. Under review are stricter checks at the stage of company registration, and even mandatory physical presence at AADE in cases of elevated risk. Planned cross-checking of General Commercial Registry (GEMI) data with tax administration records would look for shared directors and repeated changes of management.