Operation in Brazil Targets Manga Piracy Website with ONLY 5000 Monthly Visits

In a large-scale operation conducted on Tuesday, April 15, Brazilian police dismantled a piracy scheme involving manga, manhwa, and webtoons. The operation, called Slimeread – Final Stroke, targeted a website that was illegally offering copyrighted content for free.

Operation in Brazil Targets Manga Piracy Website with ONLY 5000 Monthly Visits

The operation was led by the Cyber Crimes Unit (DRCI) of the Civil Police of Mato Grosso, a state in central-western Brazil. Authorities carried out four judicial orders, including the blocking of the website’s domain, removal of its access nationwide, and two search and seizure warrants in the cities of Cuiabá and Jaciara.

These actions were authorized by the local Police Inquiry Unit (NIPO) to gather further evidence and identify those responsible for the site. The operation also had the support of the Police Department of Jaciara and the Intelligence Directorate of the Civil Police.

According to the investigators, the website averaged around 5,000 monthly visits and generated revenue indirectly through ads and donations from its user base. The crackdown came after multiple reports of illegal distribution of intellectual property. Officials stated that this kind of activity severely harms the creative industry, from authors and publishers to illustrators and scriptwriters.

Authorities also emphasized that digital piracy disrupts fair competition, affects job creation, and reduces tax collection, thus impacting Brazil’s creative economy at large.

This operation is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security, through its Cyber Operations Lab (Ciberlab), aimed at strengthening the fight against digital crimes and copyright violations.

According to Guilherme Fachinelli, the DRCI’s lead investigator, efforts like these are essential for protecting the work of artists and preserving a fair and competitive creative market.

“We want to ensure that writers, illustrators, and content creators are properly rewarded for their work,” said Fachinelli.

via Você Sabia Anime