the operation anubis was a police operation in catalonia spain, initiated on 20 september 2017 by the civil guard following orders of the trial court number 13 of barcelona, directed by judge juan antonio ramírez sunyer. its aim was to dismantle the framework of the catalan independence referendum of 1 october 2017, that was suspended on 6 september 2017 by the constitutional court of spain as breaching the 1978 constitution. different headquarters of the generalitat de catalunya were searched and 14 people were arrested, including high ranking administrative staff, and company ceo's involved in the preparation of the referendum. simultaneously, several printing and media companies were searched looking for ballot papers and boxes. more than 140 websites were shut down by the spanish justice and police.