IPTV Operators Face Charges of Bell, Rogers TV Signal Theft and Illegal Distribution in Canada

• Several individuals are accused of stealing TV signal from Canadian operators Bell, Rogers, and Quebecor.
• They also sold illegal set-top boxes via IPTV services Arubox TV and Stocker IPTV.
• Some charges extend beyond IPTV-related activities, such as alleged involvement in trafficking prescription drugs.

Canadian authorities are tackling the growing issue of pirate IPTV operations in a significant development involving André Grenier, a 52-year-old accused of orchestrating illegal TV signal theft and distribution. 

The prosecution alleges that Grenier led a sophisticated operation providing access to over 3,500 pirated TV channels through two IPTV services, Arubox TV and Stocker IPTV. 

Grenier’s business activities are alleged to include the production and trafficking of devices configured for piracy, enabling customers to access stolen TV signals from leading Canadian telecom companies Bell, Rogers, and Quebecor.  

For a subscription price of around CA $25 per month (approximately US $18), thousands of customers, including 7,000 in Quebec alone, accessed illegal streams. It is estimated that Grenier’s activities generated annual profits of at least CA $2 million between 2020 and 2024.

Grenier, who avoided arrest for more than a year after eluding a major raid in 2024, now faces trial alongside seven co-defendants. The alleged associates, including operators and collaborators of the IPTV service, are accused of crimes ranging from fraud to money laundering and device trafficking:  

1. Danick Rouleau, 39, of Saint-Eustache (alleged Stocker IPTV operator)
2. Sarah-Maude Grenier, 25, of Brownsburg-Chatham
3. Marie-Ève ​​Poliquin Karaguioules, 26, of Saint-Eustache
4. Éric Laforge, 44, of Gatineau
5. Daniel Perreault-Marcotte, 38, of Saint-Henri
6. Patrick Cyr, 49, of Longueuil
7. Christian Sabourin, 60, of Princeville

Some charges extend beyond IPTV-related activities; authorities have uncovered alleged involvement in trafficking prescription drugs, particularly Sildenafil and Tadalafil.  

Law enforcement agencies have advised customers who used Arubox TV or Stocker IPTV to dispose of any devices configured for piracy. These devices, such as the Formuler set-top boxes, often utilized in the operations, remain legal unless specifically altered for pirated use. 

Proper factory resets can restore them to legal functionality, and customers are encouraged to recycle these devices responsibly.

While police have clarified that customers are not the targets of this investigation, owning and operating a configured device may still be considered a crime under Canadian law.