Two different criminal organizations, whose members were active in committing criminal fraud against the National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (E.O.P.Y.Y.), through the virtual prescription of pharmaceutical preparations, were dismantled by the Directorate of Economic Police,

After a large-scale operation that took place on Friday, September 13, 2024, a total of 16 of their members were arrested.

These are 4 doctors of Public Health Structures in Attica and Boeotia, 8 owners and employees of pharmacies in Attica, 1 medical visitor from a pharmaceutical company and 1 person who had the role of intermediary.

How virtual prescription rings worked

The illegal activity of criminal organizations started at least from January 2020while as it turned out, they had a similar purpose, way of acting as well as common members who were active in parallel.

In particular, it was found that the members of the two organizations initially proceeded through their physician-members in the systematic publication false prescriptions in A.M.K.A. -mainly foreigners– people.

These people had either been removed from the country, or were incarcerated in Detention Centers, or housed in various structures, as a result of which they were unable to detect the false prescription. In fact, members to maximize their profits used and A.M.K.A. uninsured persons, as their participation in the expenditure of E.O.P.Y.Y. was zero.

Then, through their member companies/pharmacies, they proceeded to virtual executions of prescriptionssigning performance documents on behalf of the insured, forging their signatures. The further distribution of illegally prescribed pharmaceuticals was carried out through pharmacies and doctors to customers, both in Greece and abroad.

Subsequently, the proceeds of their illegal activity were either commingled with legitimate income through the issuance of dummy retail receipts, or were kept in lockers banking institutions.

It is noted that, among the drugs they falsely prescribed, are included drugs as well as others psychotropic substanceswhile some of the drugs are in lackboth in the Greek and international markets.

From the research so far, it has been established that illegal use 3.516 A.M.K.A. under which they were falsely issued 90,186 recipeswith damage of E.O.P.Y.Y., to overcome the 3,500,284.98 euro.

In addition, in the context of the investigations, the illegal activity of the owner of a pharmacy was ascertained, which put into circulation pharmaceutical preparations, which could cause a risk to human health, while part of these preparations were supplied by a pharmacy belonging to criminal organizations.

A case file was filed against all the above arrested persons for – as the case may be-, formation – membership in a criminal organization, forgery after use per se, false certification, per se against the Hellenic State and N.P.D.D. with a total benefit and a corresponding loss exceeding the amount of 120,000 euros, fraud jointly, by continuation and by profession at the expense of the Greek State and N.P.D.D. with a total benefit and a corresponding loss exceeding the amount of 120,000 euros, without the right to intervene in a personal data archiving system, obtaining knowledge of this data and using it, with a total benefit and a corresponding loss exceeding the amount of 120,000 euros, money laundering criminal activities, prominent drug trafficking as well as the trafficking of harmful drugs.

In searches carried out in homes, storage areas, clinics, pharmacies, Public Health Facilities and bank safes, the following were found and confiscated:

  • over 9,000 packages of illegally prescribed pharmaceutical preparations, including preparations containing narcotic substances,
  • 451,140 Euros, 10,000 US Dollars, 8,000 Australian Dollars,
  • 2 gold bars total weight 1 kg, 109 gold pounds,
  • number of documents (handwritten notes with doctors’ payments, doctors’ stamps, prescriptions/opinions, etc.),
  • mobile phones, computers as well as other digital persuasions.

Those arrested were taken to the competent prosecutor’s office and referred to a main interrogation.

It is reminded that citizens can contact, anonymously or by name, the telephone number 11012 or the website of the Greek State (gov.gr) “Complaint for financial crimes”, to provide information or to report illegal and fraudulent actions or activities against the sector of the economy, public property, as well as social and insurance welfare and rights.