A 54-year-old Greek Air Force Colonel has confessed to operating as a spy for a Chinese intelligence network, revealing details of his recruitment and naming his alleged handler.
The officer, who remains in custody pending his formal testimony on Tuesday, was a specialist with NATO certification in telecommunications. His roles within the General Staff and as commander of the 128th Telecommunications-Electronics Training Group in Kavouri gave him access to classified blueprints, high-tech development programs, and sensitive Air Force software.
According to investigations, the recruitment process began approximately two years ago via an online messaging application. Initially, his handlers requested information of a “consultancy nature,” offering increasing financial rewards. As the payments grew, so did the demands for more sensitive data.
The recruitment was reportedly finalized during a trip to China in 2024. Subsequently, a Chinese handler traveled to Greece to provide the Colonel with an encryption device used to transmit photographed classified documents.
During interrogation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP), the officer admitted his primary motive was financial gain. He reportedly requested payments in Chinese yuan, a money trail that authorities have since traced through digital footprints.
EYP is now working to verify the identity of the Chinese handler named by the Colonel, as the specific name provided has not yet been matched with a known individual. Furthermore, investigators are searching for at least two other individuals whom the Colonel is alleged to have recruited into the network.
The Colonel’s expertise covered critical fields including software development for flying radars, IT system management, and the handling of major operational contracts. He was also active in cyber security for critical infrastructure and shipping. He appeared before the Athens Air Court yesterday and will remain detained until his formal hearing before a military prosecutor.
