Bulgaria led Europol operation dismantles streaming rings

International law enforcement agencies, led by Bulgaria and supported by Europol, successfully dismantled numerous illegal streaming networks from September 2025 to April 2026. This operation targeted the entire piracy ecosystem, uncovering extensive criminal operations rather than just customer-facing websites. These sophisticated criminal enterprises often appear as affordable entertainment options to users but pose serious cybersecurity risks, including malware and data theft.

The operation resulted in 29 arrests, 148 house searches, and the identification of 86 suspects. Additionally, 169 malicious domains were removed and significant collaboration with the private sector helped identify over 4,000 new piracy-related domains, enhancing the protection of global media and consumer environments.