Athens, Greece. A 54-year-old Greek Air Force colonel has confessed to operating as a spy for a Chinese intelligence network, according to investigators. He remains in custody pending formal testimony on Tuesday.
Access to classified material
The officer was a specialist with NATO certification in telecommunications and served within the General Staff and as commander of the 128th Telecommunications-Electronics Training Group in Kavouri. Investigators said those roles gave him access to classified blueprints, high-tech development programs, and sensitive Air Force software.
Recruitment and alleged communications
According to investigations, the recruitment process began about two years ago via an online messaging application. Investigators said the officer was initially asked for information described as being of a “consultancy nature,” with increasing financial rewards, followed by requests for more sensitive data as payments grew.
Investigators said the recruitment was finalized during a trip to China in 2024. They added that a Chinese handler later traveled to Greece and provided the colonel with an encryption device used to transmit photographed classified documents.
Interrogation and financial trail
During interrogation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP), the officer admitted his primary motive was financial gain, investigators said. He reportedly requested payments in Chinese yuan, and authorities said they have traced a money trail through digital footprints.
Ongoing investigation and court proceedings
EYP is working to verify the identity of the Chinese handler named by the colonel, as the specific name provided has not been matched with a known individual, investigators said. Authorities are also searching for at least two other individuals whom the colonel is alleged to have recruited into the network.
The colonel’s expertise included software development for flying radars, IT system management, and handling major operational contracts, investigators said. He was also active in cyber security for critical infrastructure and shipping. He appeared before the Athens Air Court and will remain detained until his formal hearing before a military prosecutor.
What impact could this case have on Greece’s military security procedures?