The war on illegal streaming of live football matches — the biggest threat to the Premier League's £5billion TV rights deal — saw five people arrested in early-morning raids on Wednesday.
The traders were accused of selling illegal set-top boxes modified to stream expensive subscription football games free after raids of their homes in Manchester, Bolton, Bootle, Cheadle and Rhyl discovered the pirate equipment.
The action was co-ordinated by Federation Against Copyright Theft on behalf of the Premier League and their TV partners Sky, BT Sport and Virgin Media.
FACT believe the five arrested had made around £250,000 selling the loaded Kodi box devices online.