Alleged spy for China was under scrutiny for over a year prior to arrest

A Greek Air Force colonel held since Thursday for allegedly selling NATO military secrets to China was under surveillance for a year and a half before his arrest, officials told Kathimerini.

Greek authorities first became suspicious of the 54-year-old telecommunications specialist in 2024 when he failed to declare to his superiors, as regulations oblige serving officers, a trip to China. He is believed to have been recruited there. Initial reports had suggested the suspect was only arrested following a tip-off from a key Western ally.

The officer, who commanded a training unit dealing with communications and electronic systems on the southern outskirts of Athens, previously served at Air Force headquarters in a post with access to information sensitive to NATO matters. After his arrest, he reportedly admitted to passing on secrets to China.

Officials told Kathimerini that the confession was facilitated by the discovery on the officer of an undeclared second mobile phone that he allegedly used to send data to his Chinese handler, much of which was recovered.

He was allegedly paid between €5,000-15,000 for each article of information he provided.

The officer has been charged with gathering and passing on military secrets, and is due to appear before a military investigating judge on Tuesday. If tried and convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and could be stripped of his Greek nationality.

Authorities are also investigating the suspect’s relationship with another two retired Air Force officers, but believe no more serving officers are involved in the case. (Ekathimerini)