A new major “hit” by the Prosecution of Electronic Crime revealed a haven of illegality in the heart of Athens. One apartment not only housed illegal resellers of pirated subscription channels, but was also the central hub of an extensive illegal network.

During the operation, officers raided the apartment, finding significant sums of money and computers used to distribute illegal content to hundreds of consumers. Information indicates that a large amount of illegal clientele has been found, which will now be investigated by the prosecuting authorities.

In this context, a 56-year-old man was arrested, against whom a case file was filed for violation of the legislation on intellectual property and on the protection of subscription services. It is noted that there was a previous complaint, according to which an unknown person, using specialized means and applications, was decoding and illegally retransmitting subscription television channels, for a monetary fee in the form of a subscription, while at the same time advertising his services on the internet.

The Athens Prosecutor’s Office requested a preliminary examination

A subsequent search of his home revealed the use of unauthorized equipment, appropriately modified to relay content from two subscription companies, without the legal subscription and license. At the same time, a mobile phone, an Android Box device and -3- a USB stick were found and confiscated.

It is noted that the profits from the sale of pirated subscription channels are huge and drive a gigantic underground economy. The revelation of this hidden network demonstrates the continued vigilance and fight against piracy.