Police in northern Greece are continuing to investigate a family accused of distributing hundreds of tonnes of cheap sunflower oil mixed with additives and labelled as "extra virgin olive oil", in what is described as a long-running, highly organised fraud.
A 56-year-old man, his 52-year-old wife, and their 34-year-old son are facing three major case files linked to the sale of oil falsely marketed as "extra virgin olive oil". According to authorities, the product was, in fact, the sunflower oil coloured and flavoured to resemble olive oil. Despite repeated arrests, the three were released for a third time this week, pending further laboratory analysis to confirm the chemical composition of the seized products and determine the scale of the alleged fraud.
The case is being handled by the Northern Greece division of the organised crime unit's financial crimes department. Officers recently uncovered another illegal workshop in Alexandreia, in the regional unit of Imathia, where 2,125 litres of oil were seized, including 600 litres already packaged in tins labelled "Extra Virgin Olive Oil".
This follows earlier raids. In April 2025, police confiscated nearly 17,000 litres from a separate facility, much of it similarly labelled. Investigators say that over the past six years, the family is alleged to have circulated 600 tonnes of adulterated oil. In the past ten months alone, 81 tonnes were reportedly exported to Germany, sold at around 5 euros per litre, an attractive price at a time when genuine olive oil was in short supply and retail prices had surged.
Police estimate that consumers lost around 3.4 million euros, while unpaid taxes and duties may amount to a further 440,000 euros. Investigators also identified the transport company used for shipments to Germany and the printing house that produced labels claiming premium quality, specific regions of origin and even award distinctions. Authorities say the investigation will continue once state laboratory results clarify the substances used in the seized batches.
by Costas Kantouris - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
