Two arrested in Greece for pirate TV network ordered detained

In Greece, two individuals have been ordered into pre-trial detention as part of an investigation into an alleged "pirate" subscription television network. The decision followed lengthy testimonies at the Heraklion Courts.

Of the seven individuals initially arrested, three, a father and his two sons, requested a new date to present their testimonies, which is set for Monday. Among the four who testified, a couple and the woman's brother are from Heraklion. The woman and her brother were released on high bail amounts, 20,000 euros and 30,000 euros, respectively. They are also prohibited from leaving the country and must report to the police twice a month.

The investigation, conducted by the Crete Organized Crime Fighting Unit, uncovered a database with over 86,000 users. The network's alleged illicit profits are estimated at a minimum of seven million euros, while the financial damage to legitimate service providers is believed to exceed 50 million euros. Authorities also identified significant financial activity, including nearly one million euros in banking transactions and movements across 58 bank accounts in ten different countries.

Maintaining secrecy was a major challenge during the months-long operation, as any leak could have jeopardized the investigation. The suspects reportedly had the capability to remotely manage their technological infrastructure and disable critical systems instantly. The investigation also highlighted the organization's sophisticated methods, with the central server located in Agrinio while key figures were hundreds of kilometers away when authorities conducted simultaneous operations across the country.

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With a remote control, with a simple movement, they would disable everything.