Authorities across three continents executed a major crackdown on February 3, 2026, dismantling a sophisticated illegal streaming network that distributed pirated pay-television content to millions of users worldwide. The operation represented the culmination of investigative work that began with data seized during a landmark 2024 takedown of a related criminal enterprise.
The coordinated action involved law enforcement agencies from Italy, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, Kosovo, and South Korea, with the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) orchestrating judicial coordination and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) providing analytical support and field experts.
Scale of the Operation
Investigators seized control of three major IPTV (Internet Protocol television) platforms operating from Italy and shut down a primary global provider utilizing servers in Romania, effectively terminating services for millions of subscribers. The criminal investigation drew heavily on intelligence gathered from the earlier operation, including analysis of seized data, traffic patterns, network architecture, and cryptocurrency transaction flows.
The 31 suspects face allegations of systematically hacking information technology systems to gain unauthorized access to premium content, including live sporting events, films, television series, and more than 2,500 television channels. Prosecutors allege the operation generated millions of euros in monthly revenue through subscription fees.
To conceal their activities and launder proceeds, the suspects allegedly employed cryptocurrencies and shell companies, while using encrypted communications and false identities for service registrations to evade detection.
Connection to 2024 Crackdown
The February operation builds directly on the foundation of "Taken Down," a November 2024 enforcement action that dismantled what was then described as one of the world's largest illegal streaming services. That earlier operation, led by Italian authorities with participation from Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, involved more than 100 searches and resulted in 11 arrests in Croatia.
The 2024 network had served 22 million users and allegedly caused €10 billion in damages to copyright holders. Authorities seized €1.6 million in cryptocurrency, €40,000 in cash, and numerous servers. Investigators estimated the criminal enterprise generated €250 million monthly in illegal revenue from pirated films, series, and sports programming.
The enforcement actions also raise ongoing questions about balancing vigorous IP protection with broader concerns about digital access and media freedom, issues that remain subjects of active policy debate within EU institutions.
