The Civil Guard has reported the dismantling of Cristal Azul, a pirate streaming channel that operated through a Kodi player addon. This channel, which broadcast LaLiga football matches, has been shut down as part of the operation called ‘Corsario Azul.’ The investigation was initiated following a complaint from LaLiga and Movistar, who alerted authorities to the illegal activity.

According to data provided by the Civil Guard, more than 78,000 users benefited from the illegal streaming of LaLiga’s First and Second Division football matches. The fraud, which affected prominent companies like LaLiga and Movistar, has been estimated at over 42 million euros.

AN EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION

The ‘Corsario Azul‘ operation allowed the Civil Guard agents to identify and track the Cristal Azul addon. This addon, developed by a third party not related to the Kodi platform, provided free access to LaLiga football matches, causing significant harm to the companies holding the broadcasting rights. The investigation focused on tracing the source code of the extension, which led to identifying the instant messaging platform from which the illegal matches were distributed.

Once the streaming channel was identified, the Civil Guard managed to trace the responsible individuals, culminating in the investigation of a 37-year-old person, who will face charges for fraud exceeding 42 million euros. Additionally, all channels involved in the illegal broadcasting of matches were blocked and removed.

MILLION-EURO FRAUD AND THE DEACTIVATION OF DIGITAL CHANNELS

The operation not only identified the person responsible for the illegal activity but also resulted in the removal of all channels through which the football matches were illegally broadcasted. According to reports, the fraud affected two major companies in Spain, with the Civil Guard estimating the economic damages at over 42 million euros. Furthermore, the programming code that enabled free access to the matches was eliminated.

This intervention highlights the importance of collaboration between authorities and companies affected by digital piracy. The Civil Guard continues its efforts to eradicate these illegal distribution channels that harm copyright and the entertainment industry in Spain.