Following a two-year investigation initiated by a complaint from a national pay-TV broadcaster, German authorities have taken significant action against an illegal streaming operation. In a large-scale law enforcement operation, over 150 officers executed searches at 17 locations, targeting 18 suspects. As a result, three primary suspects, aged between 36 and 59, are now in custody facing charges of commercial computer fraud, which could result in prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Authorities have only recently disclosed details of the operation, which took place last month. The Police Headquarters of Upper Franconia, in collaboration with the Central Office for Cybercrime Bavaria, confirmed the culmination of their extensive investigation into what they describe as an ‘illegal streaming network.’ The case began when a major pay-TV broadcaster filed a criminal complaint in June 2023, alleging financial damages amounting to millions of euros.

Investigation Centers on a 36-Year-Old Suspect

While the broadcaster remains unnamed, sources suggest that Sky is the complainant. The investigation identified three key individuals suspected of running the illegal streaming service: a 36-year-old from Wunsiedel in northeastern Bavaria, a 59-year-old from the Rheinisch-Bergisch district near Cologne, and a 37-year-old from Tuttlingen in southern Baden-Württemberg.

Authorities believe that the 36-year-old suspect played a leading role in making programs available to an estimated 30,000 subscribers worldwide, causing substantial financial losses. The 59-year-old and 37-year-old suspects are accused of similar offenses. Preliminary reports indicate that the financial damages involved could exceed $10 million.

Large-Scale Raid in Mid-February

The extensive law enforcement operation involved officers from multiple regions, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saarland. Arrest warrants for the three primary suspects were issued by the Bamberg District Court on charges of commercial computer fraud.

During the raids, police confiscated approximately 16,000 euros in cash and around 35,000 euros in cryptocurrency. Several bank accounts were also seized by the Central Office for Cybercrime Bavaria. In addition to financial assets, authorities secured over 200 digital devices and shut down multiple servers allegedly used for illegal streaming activities.

Since their arrests, the three main suspects have remained in custody at different correctional facilities in Germany. If convicted, they could face prison terms ranging from six months to ten years. In addition to the primary suspects, several other individuals are under investigation for acting as resellers or users of the illegal streaming service.

Unidentified Streaming Service

German authorities typically do not disclose the names of individuals or businesses involved in criminal cases, and in this instance, they have also withheld the name of the pirate streaming service. Without this information, assessing the full impact of the shutdown remains difficult. It is also unclear whether this was a single, centralized streaming service or a broader network utilizing multiple platforms.

The charges of commercial computer fraud suggest potential links to card-sharing schemes, a method used for illegally accessing encrypted television content. Some experts believe the case may involve legally purchased TV subscriptions that were then used to access encrypted streams, which were subsequently decrypted and redistributed to a wider audience.

As investigations continue, authorities are expected to uncover further details about the scope and operation of this illegal streaming network. More arrests and legal actions may follow as Germany continues its crackdown on digital piracy.