International Crackdown Dismantles Nine Illegal Streaming Crime Networks

European and international law enforcement agencies have dismantled nine organized crime groups involved in illegal streaming operations and arrested 29 suspects as part of a major anti-piracy campaign.

The operation, known as “Operation KRATOS 2,” was coordinated by Bulgarian authorities with support from Europol and involved law enforcement agencies from 13 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The seven-month investigation targeted criminal networks responsible for the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted sports broadcasts, movies, and television content.

Large-Scale Enforcement Action

Authorities identified more than 18,000 IP addresses connected to illegal streaming services and uncovered 4,370 domains linked to piracy operations. Investigators also flagged nearly 400,000 additional URLs for removal or suspension and identified more than 126,000 infringing digital assets.

As a result of the coordinated action, more than 27,000 illegal streaming URLs were removed from the internet.

The operation also led to:

• 29 arrests
• 86 suspects identified
• 148 house searches conducted
• 59 cases referred to judicial authorities
• 72 additional criminal investigations currently underway

Criminal Networks Operated Across Multiple Countries

According to Europol, the organizations behind illegal streaming services often separate customer-facing websites from the servers hosting pirated content. This strategy allows them to operate across multiple jurisdictions and complicates efforts to detect, investigate, and prosecute those involved.

Rather than focusing solely on shutting down websites, investigators targeted the broader criminal infrastructure supporting the piracy ecosystem. This approach enabled authorities to gather intelligence on the groups managing and operating the services while identifying key individuals responsible for their technical and operational activities.

Cybersecurity Risks for Users

Beyond copyright violations, Europol warned that illegal streaming platforms can expose users to significant cybersecurity threats.

These risks include:

• Malware infections
• Spyware installation
• Theft of personal information
• Financial and data security risks

Authorities emphasized that many piracy platforms generate substantial revenue for criminal organizations while simultaneously exposing users to cybercrime.

Part of a Wider Global Anti-Piracy Effort

Operation KRATOS 2 follows the original Operation KRATOS, conducted in 2024, which dismantled an illegal streaming network serving more than 22 million users worldwide. That operation resulted in 11 arrests, 102 identified suspects, and 112 searches.

The latest crackdown is also part of a broader international effort against digital piracy. Earlier this year, Operation Switch Off, coordinated by Europol, Eurojust, and Interpol, led to the seizure of three industrial-scale illegal IPTV services.

More recently, Italian authorities shut down the CINEMAGOAL piracy platform, which provided unauthorized access to popular streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify.

Law enforcement agencies say the continued success of these operations demonstrates growing international cooperation against digital piracy networks and the criminal organizations that profit from them.