A UK-BASED illegal streaming service used by millions of viewers to watch Premier League matches has been shut down.
Cops swooped in to arrest four suspects who are alleged to have had a key role in a large scale illegal IPTV streaming network.
The force also seized servers and associated equipment worth a whopping £750,000 at the address in Manchester last week.
Major broadcaster Sky had sounded the alarm following suspicious activity linked to a large-scale illicit streaming service.
One of the suspects is alleged to have pocketed more than £3million in revenue from the operation.
“Criminals continue to provide illegal IPTV streaming services to consumers,” Detective Constable Jordan Day, of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, said.
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“These services are not harmless alternatives; they are examples of organised criminal operations generating millions in illegal profits.
“It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it.
“This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky added: “We thank the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking decisive action against a major pirate operation.
“We take the protection of our content extremely seriously given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.
“People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advises that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods.
“This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe.”
