Two British expatriates have been arrested in Spain’s Costa Blanca region for allegedly operating an illegal IPTV subscription service from their home in Alicante province.

As reported in local press, the two men — aged approximately 50 and 70 — were detained by officers from Spain’s National Police as part of a cybercrime investigation into unauthorised television streaming services. Authorities believe the pair were responsible for managing and distributing access to a pirate IPTV platform that offered premium television channels without the proper broadcasting rights.

According to reports, the service provided access to international content from several European countries, including Spain, Germany, France and Nordic nations. Subscribers were allegedly given usernames and passwords to stream channels on smart TVs, set-top boxes and mobile devices.

Investigators estimate that around 330 customers were subscribed to the service, with reported revenues reaching approximately €190,000. Police say the operation had been running for some time before it was dismantled.

During a search of the property, officers reportedly seized 42 decoder devices, memory cards, computers, mobile phones and a tablet. Authorities also blocked the IPTV platform to prevent further access.

The suspects are said to be facing potential charges related to intellectual property offences, fraud involving audiovisual services, and possible electricity irregularities. The investigation was carried out by Spain’s Policía Nacional, specifically units specialising in cybercrime and digital piracy.

This case forms part of a wider crackdown across Spain and Europe targeting piracy and illegal IPTV networks. In recent years, authorities have increased efforts to shut down unauthorised streaming services that distribute sports, films and subscription television channels without permission from rights holders.

Illegal IPTV operations have become increasingly common due to low setup costs and the ability to reach customers across borders. However, law enforcement agencies are continuing to pursue operators and resellers, particularly where services are run commercially for profit.