They stop the largest manga portal in Spanish and reveal a technological fabric that moved millions of dollars

The Spanish National Police have taken a major blow against the piracy of comics: according to his statement, he has disarticulated what they consider the largest manga portal in Spanish, a site that has been operating since 2014 and which was allegedly attended by millions of users a month from all over the world. The investigation, which started in June 2025, describes a sophisticated operation whose business model was based on providing free access to copyright-protected works and monetizing traffic through aggressive advertising windows.

The official note of the National Police highlights the international scope and the damage caused to creators, publishers and translators, and is in line with what is published by specialized means of security and intellectual property. For example, TorrentFreak has reported that the Tu Manga Online portal (TMO) was released after legal action, and that the description and time limits the Police cites coincide with that site, although the police note itself does not explicitly name the platform. You can read the official statement on the National Police page here: Communiqué de la Policía Nacional.

Beyond the closure, what is striking are the figures and practices described. The authorities claim that the portal came to generate more than $4.7 million in advertising revenue by mass exploitation of pop-ups: windows that were deployed with each interaction - by selecting a comic book, by reading a synopsis or by browsing the catalogue - thus multiplying the advertising impressions. According to the research, many of these advertisements were of pornographic content, a particularly serious problem if a significant part of the manga public is considered to be underage.

The police operation included an entry and registration in a house in Almería where, according to the officers' account, a "complex technological assembly" was discovered that supported the operation of the web. During the search, they also found evidence that an alternative site was being developed, probably thought of as a backup to migrate the activity in the event of a closure; the raid prevented its start-up. Several people were arrested by the security forces: in addition to the main suspect registered in Almería, there were three other arrests linked to the same operation, although the exact roles of each of them have not been publicly detailed.

One of the most striking findings was that of two USB devices hidden within a wall thermometer: inside it there were "cold wallets" of cryptomonedas with a higher value than $470,000 in digital assets, according to the police. This type of off-line storage is used to protect funds from hacking, but it also complicates the tracing and recovery of resources linked to illicit activities; it is an example of how digital piracy has crossed with the critical ecosystem. To better understand how cryptomonedas intertwine with online crimes, reports from analysts like Chainalysis can offer context on trends and concealment techniques.

In addition to the economic implications, this case puts on the table again a broader discussion: the effect of piracy on cultural industries. The sleeves are works involving authors, cartoonists, translators, editors and distributors; when unauthorised operating income is affected, the whole chain is damaged that allows these works to reach new audiences and new productions are financed. International institutions governing intellectual property, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) they recall that the protection of rights is essential to sustain cultural creation, but also point to the need for balanced policies that facilitate legal and affordable access to the public.

International cooperation has been a key factor in many operations against unauthorised content platforms, because servers, paywalkways and users often spread their activity across several countries. In this case, the National Police highlighted the international impact of the action and the reputational and economic damage inflicted on rights-holders both in Spain and abroad. It is a reminder that the fight against piracy combines technical research, judicial action and - sometimes - collaboration with rights-holders and authorities in other jurisdictions.

For manga-loving readers, this episode can also serve to reflect on responsible alternatives. Today there are legal options that offer access to comprehensive catalogues, official translations and subscription or purchase models that reverse revenue to authors and publishers: from platforms of Japanese origin such as MangaPlus even international services that include manga in your offer, such as Crunchyroll Manga. Support legitimate channels helps keep the industry alive, guarantees quality translations and protects vulnerable audiences from inappropriate content inserted by advertising networks of dubious origin.

It remains to be seen how judicial proceedings will be conducted and what sanctions and preventive measures will be applied in the coming months. What is clear is that the technification of piracy platforms - from infrastructure to host huge catalogues to the use of cryptomonedas to whiten benefits - requires equally technical and coordinated responses from the authorities and the sectors concerned. Meanwhile, this closure brings to the fore the tension between the desire for immediate access to culture and the need to support those who create it economically.

If you are interested in following the case from the original sources, you can consult the Communiqué de la Policía Nacional and the specialized coverage of TorrentFreak. For context on intellectual property and the protection of cultural creation, the WIPO provides updated guides and documentation.