ATHENS -An alleged criminal ring involving Greek health inspectors, police, licensing and the Ministry of Culture who demanded bribes and blackmailed businesses through a racket has led to 14 arrests.

Nine were public officials but no names were given under privacy laws that protect people charged with crimes, the state-run Athens-Macedonia News Agency reporting the targets were offered protection from fines or health inspections.

The accused face a long line of charges, including forming a criminal organization, extortion, and bribery.

It was estimated that the gang operated since January 2023, and took in more than 700,000 euros ($758,681) in illicit gains, with health inspectors and the ministry official getting up to 10,000 euros ($10,838) in each case.

Authorities have certified 47 cases and also confiscated several objects, including cash, watches, cellphones, laptops, hard disks, official stamps, and documents, the main targets being hotels and restaurants.

Members of the organization included a head of a municipal authority and employees from other public services in the Attica region, the operation broken after a complaint was made against a woman said blackmailing business owners.

Other businesses said extorted included construction site and kiosks, mostly in Athens, the gang going after them after finding they were facing possible violations, threatening them with more inspection and fines unless they paid up.

It wasn’t said if any of the businesses did pay bribes and if charges would be pressed although the Athens Municipal Authority announced that all involved employees were immediately suspended.

The City said that showed “zero tolerance for any corruption phenomena and actions by criminal networks,” and that its officials worked closely with law enforcement authorities to resolve the case and “all foreseen procedures will be carried out simultaneously by the municipality’s relevant services.”

The file charges include several felonies, related to setting up a criminal gang, blackmail, bribery of a public servant, fake documentation, and violation of office data as well as violations related to laws on sports, arms, and the migration code.