Europol, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from 10 European countries, carried out a major operation targeting one of the largest illegal IPTV streaming networks. The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals and the dismantling of infrastructure that provided illegal services to over 22 million users.

On Wednesday, Europol confirmed the success of the investigation, which involved 102 suspects and led to the arrest of 11 people. The criminals behind the network had hacked into more than 2,500 TV channels, including sports broadcasts, and distributed them via IPTV technology. This illegal activity generated €250 million in monthly revenue and caused losses of €100 billion annually to legitimate streaming platforms.

The operation included 112 searches across multiple countries, with 89 of them taking place in Italy. During the raids, law enforcement seized 29 servers, 270 IPTV devices, firearms, drugs, and cash totaling €1.7 million. The Italian prosecutor's office referred to the operation as "the largest battle against audiovisual piracy" in the country’s history. Authorities uncovered a complex IT infrastructure used to illegally stream protected content from platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Sky.

Europol also discovered that the organizers had used encrypted messaging services, fake documents, counterfeit identity cards, and forged bank cards to register their servers and accounts. The operation was the result of more than two years of investigation by Italian authorities.

IPTV piracy has become a global issue, with criminals exploiting the widespread availability of broadband internet to distribute illegal content on major streaming services. In 2024, Europol and Interpol stepped up their efforts against cybercrime by launching several international initiatives, including HAECHI, which led to the arrest of 5,500 individuals involved in online fraud, phishing, and virtual scams.

The dismantling of this IPTV network not only brought an end to widespread piracy but also highlighted the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating cybercrime. Europol's successful operation marks a significant step forward in protecting intellectual property rights and preserving the integrity of digital services.

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Huge IPTV piracy ring busted by European police, 22 million users impacted