A Greek Air Force Colonel who has reportedly confessed to spying, is allegedly part of a broader Chinese espionage network operating across Europe, Greek officers have reported.
The investigation that led to his arrest began about two months ago, when the US Central Intelligence Agency informed Greece’s National Intelligence Service that a member of the Greek Armed Forces was leaking sensitive NATO-related information to China.
His arrest by Greek military authorities coincides with a major breakthrough in France. On Wednesday, February 4, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of four individuals in Gironde, including two Chinese nationals, on charges of spying for Beijing.
According to French authorities, the Chinese suspects entered France to harvest Starlink satellite data and intelligence from “entities of vital importance, particularly military ones.” Greek investigators are now working to establish the direct link between the 54-year-old Greek Colonel and the cell captured in France.
Greek colonel used specialized software to spy
The colonel, who served as a commander at a facility in Kavouri, south of Athens, before being reassigned in July 2025 to a post with access to classified communications, was reportedly caught “leaving a trail.”
He allegedly used a device equipped with specialized software provided by Chinese handlers to photograph classified documents. Investigators traced his activity through a specific QR code system used to transmit sensitive data to Beijing.
NATO and the US were alerted, as the officer held a critical position within NATO intelligence. Military sources suggest his arrest was finalized just before he could transmit high-tech Greek military secrets.
Related: Suspect Arrested in Greece’s Alexandroupolis for Espionage Tied to Russia
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