The Spanish National Police announced the takedown of a criminal organization that had illegally profited over €5.3 million since 2015 by distributing pirated audiovisual content.
Eight individuals were arrested in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Oviedo, and Málaga, and two residences were searched. Additionally, 16 websites involved in IPTV content distribution and storage were blocked.
The investigation began in November 2022 after the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment filed a complaint against two websites allegedly selling copyrighted video content. Through complex digital and financial investigations, the police’s Central Cybercrime Unit traced the websites to a Dutch national leading a network of individuals, primarily based in Gran Canaria, operating under the guise of legitimate businesses.
The organization utilized advanced technology to intercept satellite signals from various countries, decrypting and redistributing the content illegally. They offered over 130 international television channels and thousands of movies and series to over 14,000 subscribers worldwide, charging between €10 and €19 per month or €90 and €169 per year.
Key network members, who held crucial roles in the operation, were arrested. Two simultaneous raids in Spain, one in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and another in Madrid led to the seizure of a vehicle, two computers, and €80,000 in bank accounts. The servers of the online platforms and 16 websites were also blocked, redirecting users to a police information page.
