Seven Britons have been arrested in the coastal area of Orihuela for distributing pirated television signals to more than 15,000 clients, most of them also British.

The Guardia Civil made the arrests in several urbanisations on Tuesday, starting at 9.30am in Urbanisation Laguna III in the area of Punta Prima.

Telecommunications and computer material was seized in such an amount that several vans were needed.

The group distributed the signal from several national pay channels from Digital Plus as well as international satellite signals. It’s estimated that they had made several million € in servicing at least 15,000 clients in the area.

Several clients told the Guardia Civil that they were indeed customers of the group, but that they did not know the service was unauthorised.

The seven arrested face initial charges of crimes against intellectual property and tax fraud. More arrests in the case have not been ruled out.