Seven operators behind HiAnime, recognized globally as the largest anime piracy streaming platform, have been apprehended in Vietnam following an extensive, multi-year international investigation involving United States law enforcement authorities.
According to reports verified by local law enforcement and anti-piracy coalitions, the network administered over 100 illicit streaming domains, unauthorizedly distributing upwards of 26,000 films and series between 2020 and mid-2026. The coordinated raids yielded approximately $12.85 million in ad-based revenue across the sprawling network.
ACE and Vietnamese authorities coordinate major enforcement
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)—operating under the backing of the Motion Picture Association—formally confirmed the arrests alongside crucial investigative intelligence provided by the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security Investigations.
The international enforcement operation coincided with Vietnam's recent designation within global trade evaluations regarding intellectual property enforcement. Following coordinated efforts between Vietnam’s Economic Crimes Investigation Department and domestic cybercrime units, four primary suspects were placed directly into custody, while remaining associates face strict travel restrictions pending trial.
Actions such as this demonstrate our determination to pursue all avenues to disrupt and dismantle illegal streaming networks.
ACE, Official Statement
This major operation forms part of an escalating global campaign targeting digital piracy networks. The crackdown follows similar sweeping international initiatives, including Europol-led actions that successfully dismantled tens of thousands of unauthorized media domains worldwide.
