MADRID — A recent operation led by Europol during the summer’s high-profile sporting events, including the European Championship and the Paris Olympics, has successfully dismantled an extensive network responsible for the illegal streaming of sports and other pirated digital content, as reported by Spain’s leading soccer league on Thursday.

The investigation uncovered over 560 sellers of pirated material, which prominently featured streaming of movies, television series, and channels. La Liga, having played an integral role in the operation, disclosed that more than 100 individuals have been identified as suspects, with 11 arrests made in connection with the case.

According to La Liga, the initiative coincided with major sporting events such as UEFA EURO 2024, focusing primarily on combating digital piracy encompassing the unauthorized distribution, publication, and broadcasting of copyrighted digital content.

During the course of the operation, authorities conducted over 100 searches resulting in the confiscation of nearly 30 servers and 270 IPTV devices. In addition, approximately 100 domains associated with illegal activities were seized. Law enforcement also uncovered drugs and weapons, alongside the confiscation of cryptocurrency valued at roughly 1.6 million euros ($1.64 million) and 40,000 euros in cash.

The illicit network reportedly provided access to over 2,500 TV channels, reaching an estimated 22 million users worldwide without the necessary permissions from copyright holders, highlighted the Spanish league.

This coordinated operation, dubbed “Operation Kratos,” spanned across 15 countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The operation took place from June to September and involved a collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies from both EU and non-EU countries, as well as various EU organizations and private digital content enterprises.