FACT investigators were involved in the largest ever single seizure of pirate DVDs in a raid on premises in Dudley, West Midlands, UK, last week where five people were arrested.

In an intelligence led joint operation with West Midlands Police, Sandwell Trading Standards, BPI and ELSPA, warrants were obtained to search four premises – two shops and two home addresses.

The pirate DVD operation was centred on a shop in Dudley High Street, where a concealed entrance opened into an upstairs floor where DVD burners and PCs were located and a counterfeit DVD ‘wholesale business’ was in operation. The premises were also guarded by extensive CCTV coverage.

Over 800,000 pirate DVDs with a street value of over £2 million were arranged by film type and in alphabetical order. Counterfeit music CDs and video games were also seized. It is believed this enterprise was supplying a large number of traders across the West Midlands with pirate DVDs, CDs and video games.

Kieron Sharp, Director General of FACT, said: “This is a substantial blow to a sophisticated and sizeable counterfeiting operation trading in illegal copies of films and TV shows and we are grateful for the assistance of the local police and trading standards. The message for anyone thinking of buying a pirate DVD is ‘don’t put money into the hands of criminals’. You are also harming local businesses and traders.

Story filed 10.05.07