The seven-month KRATOS 2 operation, involving 13 countries, also led to the takedown of more than 27,000 illegal streaming links and the identification of 86 suspects.
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A major international law enforcement operation has dealt a significant blow to criminal networks involved in the illegal distribution of audiovisual content. The operation, codenamed KRATOS 2 and coordinated by Bulgaria with the support of Europol, ran for seven months – from September 2025 to April 2026 – and resulted in 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine organised crime groups and the takedown of more than 27,000 illegal streaming links.
According to Europol, these organisations earned millions of euros by providing fraudulent access to live sports broadcasts, films and television channels through sophisticated online platforms operating across multiple countries.
Investigators did not focus solely on shutting down websites. Instead, they targeted the infrastructure supporting these illegal services, including streaming platforms and IPTV systems. “This approach enabled authorities to gather intelligence on the organised crime groups operating behind the platforms and identify key suspects involved in their management and technical operation,” the European agency said.
The operation involved authorities from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as audiovisual industry organisations such as LALIGA, UEFA, ACE/MPA, beIN Media Group and Irdeto, which provided key intelligence to support action against these piracy networks.
Europol facilitated intelligence sharing among participating countries through its Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) and provided technical and operational support throughout the investigation. The agency also co-led operational coordination alongside Bulgaria’s General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (GDBOP).
In addition to the 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine organised crime groups and the closure of more than 27,000 URLs, the operation led to the identification of 86 suspects and the detection of more than 4,000 domains linked to piracy activities, as well as over 18,000 IP addresses associated with illegal services.
Law enforcement authorities also carried out 148 house searches, reported 59 cases to national police authorities and launched 72 additional investigations.
Although piracy services may appear to offer premium content either for free or at a very low cost, Europol warns that they not only infringe intellectual property rights but also help finance criminal networks and expose users to significant cybersecurity risks, including malware infections, spyware and data theft.
A major international law enforcement operation has dealt a significant blow to criminal networks involved in the illegal distribution of audiovisual content. The operation, codenamed KRATOS 2 and coordinated by Bulgaria with the support of Europol, ran for seven months – from September 2025 to April 2026 – and resulted in 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine organised crime groups and the takedown of more than 27,000 illegal streaming links.
According to Europol, these organisations earned millions of euros by providing fraudulent access to live sports broadcasts, films and television channels through sophisticated online platforms operating across multiple countries.
Investigators did not focus solely on shutting down websites. Instead, they targeted the infrastructure supporting these illegal services, including streaming platforms and IPTV systems. “This approach enabled authorities to gather intelligence on the organised crime groups operating behind the platforms and identify key suspects involved in their management and technical operation,” the European agency said.
The operation involved authorities from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as audiovisual industry organisations such as LALIGA, UEFA, ACE/MPA, beIN Media Group and Irdeto, which provided key intelligence to support action against these piracy networks.
Europol facilitated intelligence sharing among participating countries through its Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) and provided technical and operational support throughout the investigation. The agency also co-led operational coordination alongside Bulgaria’s General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (GDBOP).
In addition to the 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine organised crime groups and the closure of more than 27,000 URLs, the operation led to the identification of 86 suspects and the detection of more than 4,000 domains linked to piracy activities, as well as over 18,000 IP addresses associated with illegal services.
Law enforcement authorities also carried out 148 house searches, reported 59 cases to national police authorities and launched 72 additional investigations.
Although piracy services may appear to offer premium content either for free or at a very low cost, Europol warns that they not only infringe intellectual property rights but also help finance criminal networks and expose users to significant cybersecurity risks, including malware infections, spyware and data theft.
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International crackdown on illegal streaming: 29 arrests and nine criminal networks dismantled – Escudo Digital
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