In a coordinated global operation, Europol closed more than 30.500 sites that distributed counterfeit and pirated material over the Internet and arrested three suspects.
According to Europol, these sites were selling various fakes productτα και παρείχαν πειρατικά προϊόντα και services, including pirated movies, TV series, music, "cracked" apps, counterfeit drugs and other illegal products.
It seems that none of the sites that were closed are listed among the most famous pirate sites on the internet, though we did find some of our listings to be disabled. However, this global company of Europol seized 26.000 luxury clothing and perfumes, 363 liters of spirits and an undefined number of devices.
Europol officials have identified and frozen more than 150.000 euros from various bank accounts and online payment platforms.
The sites shut down and the arrests made are part of an ongoing effort to combat piracys, codenamed "In Our Sites X" (IOS X), which began in 2014 and continues today with the help of European Union member states and international law enforcement.
The operation was supported by 18 EU member states, including Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, China, the United States, Colombia and Eastern Europe.
Last year, the In Our Sites initiative led to the shutdown of more than one million infringing websites Copyright, who were found to be selling counterfeit auto parts, electrical components, personal care items and other fake goods.
