UK Man Jailed for Six Years Over £1.3 Million Illegal IPTV Operation
A 68-year-old man in the UK has been sentenced to over six years in prison for masterminding a sophisticated illegal IPTV service that generated nearly £1 million. The operation, which illicitly broadcast content from major rights holders, was dismantled following an investigation by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).
A significant crackdown on digital piracy has seen a 68-year-old man, identified as **Milan Ibrahim**, sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in the UK. Ibrahim was found to be operating an illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service that amassed an estimated £980,812 (approximately $1.3 million) over a three-year period.
The investigation, led by the **Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU)**, a specialized unit within the **City of London Police**, revealed a highly organized criminal enterprise. Ibrahim's service provided unauthorized access to broadcasts from prominent rights holders, including the **BBC**, **ITV**, **Sky**, the **Premier League**, and the **Motion Picture Association**.
During enforcement actions, authorities successfully seized and shut down 80 servers linked to the operation, which were located at premises in Chorley. This decisive action significantly disrupted the illegal streaming services.
“The investigation revealed that the business operated on 80 servers from premises in Chorley and generated £980,812 over a three-year period,” the City of London Police announced. “During enforcement activity, all 80 servers were seized and shut down, significantly disrupting the operation’s ability to provide illegal streaming services.”
The seizure of these servers could have broader implications. Authorities may now be able to identify users of the illegal service, who could face fines or other legal repercussions for their involvement in copyright infringement.
Ibrahim is also expected to face further proceedings under the **Proceeds of Crime Act**, aimed at recovering the substantial illicit gains from his operation.
**Stefan Sergot**, Director of Legal Enforcement at the Premier League, lauded the law enforcement efforts, describing the dismantled IPTV service as “one of the UK’s most prominent and long-standing suppliers of pirate services.”
While UK government records show Ibrahim was a director of **CTU Systems**, a now-dissolved company that marketed IPTV software, authorities have not officially linked CTU Systems to the specific illegal service in this prosecution. The **Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT)**, which participated in the action, alongside PIPCU, has been contacted for further details.