Spanish police have shut down a large illegal online platform that distributed manga content without permission.
The operation exposed a long-running piracy network that made millions of euros by offering free access to copyrighted manga. Authorities say the platform also exposed users, including minors, to harmful advertising.
Source: Interior.gob
How the illegal platform operated
The website had been active since 2014 and became one of the biggest Spanish-language manga piracy sites in the world. It attracted millions of monthly visitors and provided free access to copyrighted content.
Spanish Police say the platform caused major financial damage to publishers, translators, and the wider creative industry. Investigators found that the platform earned more than €4 million in profit. The money came mainly from aggressive advertising systems.
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The site used pop-up ads that appeared constantly while users browsed or read content. Many of these ads included pornographic material, which raised concerns because a large part of the audience was minors.
How the Spanish Police Arrested the Culprits
Spanish National Police carried out a search in Almería, where they arrested three suspects linked to the platform. Officers also discovered a hidden technical system used to run the website.
During the search, police seized storage devices containing over €400,000 in cryptocurrency, stored in cold wallets hidden inside household objects. Authorities also stopped plans for a new illegal website that the suspects were preparing to launch.
The platform had a major negative effect on the manga publishing industry. It reduced legal sales and discouraged investment in translation and creative work. Officials say the shutdown will help restore fair conditions for publishers and content creators who were losing revenue due to piracy.
The illegal platform was not limited to Spainish citizens alone. It had users across many Spanish-speaking countries and influenced the global manga piracy scene. Its closure caused strong reactions online, showing how widely it was used before being shut down.
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