Netflix, Amazon, and Disney sue after Dominican IPTV piracy ring is dismantled

Santo Domingo.- What seemed like a harmless shortcut to cheaper entertainment for thousands of Dominican families turned out to be the front of one of the most sophisticated piracy networks uncovered in recent years. Through Operation Domo, the Public Prosecutor’s Office dismantled a massive illegal IPTV scheme that not only shook the country’s digital landscape but also caught the attention of global streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and HBO, all of which are now pursuing legal action.

The investigation revealed that the network, operating through platforms such as IPTV66.com and ServidorPrivado.is, lured subscribers by offering more than 1,400 TV channels, 14,000 movies, 1,000 series, and premium sporting events. For as little as US$1.29 per month or US$25 per year, users could access content normally spread across multiple paid platforms. With M3U playlists compatible with apps like IPTV Smarters, Kodi, or Fire TV, the service became an irresistible bargain. A reseller system further expanded its reach, turning piracy into a multimillion-dollar operation.

At the center of the case are Leonardo Alberto Casci Ocumárez, identified as the ringleader, along with Raúl Ernesto Guzmán Lora, Keomirys Torres López, Víctor Luis Torres López, Leony Esmeralda Croes, and Raúl Ernesto Guzmán Croes. Authorities traced over US$9.7 million in Bitcoin transactions linked to the group, alongside the purchase of luxury cars, real estate, and businesses used for laundering illicit profits.

Judge Fátima Veloz has imposed coercive measures, including travel bans, periodic reporting, and bail ranging from RD$1.5 million to RD$7 million. Meanwhile, lawsuits from major international studios and streaming companies estimate damages of more than RD$282 million, underscoring the scale of digital piracy in the Dominican Republic and the global battle against it.