Greek authorities have arrested a member of the Greek Air Force suspected of leaking sensitive military information to China, following a tip-off from a Western intelligence agency. The arrest took place in a military area near Athens after two months of surveillance.
The Greek National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) announced on Thursday that Greek defence authorities have arrested a member of the defence forces accused of leaking “secret information” to “third parties”. Sources close to the investigation added that two months ago, Greece’s intelligence service received a tip-off from a Western national security agency indicating that “highly sensitive” information had been leaked to China by a member of the country’s military.
The man, a member of the Greek Air Force based in the wider Athens region, was closely monitored by Greek authorities and arrested on suspicion of intending to leak even more sensitive information to his operator abroad, who is allegedly linked with China. “The arrest took place within a military area, in cooperation and coordination with other state services,” GEETHA said in a press release.
The suspect’s name was not disclosed, but sources said he confessed to the actions after his arrest. There was no immediate response from China to the allegations. This incident highlights Greece's vigilance on national security matters, particularly amid concerns over foreign intelligence involvement. The Greek Air Force, as a key component of national defence, underscores the importance of information security. The arrest, supported by Western intelligence, illustrates the intricacies of international cooperation in counter-espionage efforts.