A joint operation between UK Lewisham Council, local police and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) led to a successful raid on residential premises earlier this month. The address was under suspicion of being a distribution centre for counterfeit DVDs – the sale of which is a serious problem in South East London.

The operation resulted in more than 3,000 counterfeit DVDs being seized, as well as large quantities of plastic DVD cover sleeves, genuine and counterfeit money and fake National Insurance documents. Along with the haul officers also seized pornographic DVDs and a quantity of illegally imported cigarettes.

The raid also uncovered what are believed to be the first known counterfeit copies of The Bourne Ultimatum, which is only released this week in UK cinemas.

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, said: “The sale of counterfeit DVDs in South East London is part of a wider national problem. There are sophisticated organised criminal enterprises making substantial profits from their illegal operations and we are working with the police and councils across the UK to target them. People should be aware that in purchasing a pirate DVD they are helping to fund criminal organisations and are also affecting the livelihoods of local retailers and their employees.”

Story filed 20.08.07