Huge cancer drug stealing scam

The peculiarity in this case is the fact that the drugs are only available in hospitals and not on the market, and for that reason the gang found fertile ground for action, especially in public hospitals.

Among the defendants aree doctors, nurses and private pharmacists.

The ring was discovered by the Financial Police, and as it emerged from evidence gathered, the ring sent the drugs to collaborating pharmacies or sold them outside Greece.

In particular, the organization was supplying high-cost medicines from public hospitals and pharmacies of national health service EOPYY (illegally and through false medical certificates), which were then sent abroad. In particular, accused doctors and nurses taking advantage of their status, issued false prescriptions for these drugs or simply stole them.

The alleged leader (a 70-year-old Greek from Egypt) is the one who instructed the members, according to the police and determined market prices. Indeed, because he did not live permanently in Greece, a woman, often substituted for him.

A second group specialized in the storage and export of medicines abroad.

The third group allegedly had undertaken to supply drugs stolen from Laiko Hospital, while the fourth group provided the first with drugs from the EOPYY and private pharmacies.

The Financial Police estimated that the Greek State was damaged by the action of the ring to the tune of at least 14 million euros, which corresponds to the value of 14,401 doses as invoices show.

There are 21 defendants before Justice, but a total of 36 people are accused of taking part in the organization, while three warrants have been issued for three members at large.

There are at least eight physicians are being investigated in order to clarify whether they are actually involved in the ringt or not. Besides the Laiko Hospital, pharmaceuticals were misappropriateds from other hospitals in the country.