MultiChoice, in partnership with South African law enforcement agencies, recently conducted two successful anti-piracy operations in Florida, Mayfair, Ormonde, Booysens, and Kempton Park, resulting in the arrests of multiple individuals involved in the illegal distribution of streaming devices preloaded with unauthorised applications for accessing DStv and other premium content.
Ongoing campaign
MultiChoice said the raids represent significant victories in an ongoing campaign to protect its content, secure the entertainment industry, and reduce risks to consumers associated with pirated devices.
The first raid, conducted in Booysens, Johannesburg, uncovered a distribution network supplying unauthorised streaming devices. Through extensive investigative work, MultiChoice and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) identified individuals allegedly involved in the sale of these devices, which are embedded with applications allowing illegal access to premium television content. On October 30, an undercover operation led to the arrest of three suspects and the confiscation of multiple devices used in this illicit activity.
The second raid, held in Kempton Park, involved a similar buy-and-bust operation on 29 October. After purchasing a preloaded device from a suspect, the DPCI moved in to arrest the individual, who was later identified as part of a larger syndicate. Investigations indicate that organised crime networks fuel the illegal streaming market, leaving consumers exposed to data privacy threats and financial risks.
