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    Customs officers yesterday (March 23) seized $6 million worth of pirated VCDs in two raids.

    In a raid against a known black spot for sales of VCDs in Mong Kok, officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau and Special Task Force seized about 20,000 pirated VCDs worth about $600,000 from 22 stores.

    The seized pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs, which were well-packed, included "Howl's Moving Castle", a newly released cartoon film, and long-time cartoon favorites such as "Gundam" and "Dragon Ball".

    Subsequently, Customs officers smashed two pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs storage centres in North Point and Wan Chai, seizing 180,000 pirated VCDs totalling $5.4 million. It is believed that the storage centres supplied pirated VCDs for sale in the raided black spot.

    During the operation, 17 men, aged 19 to 60, and a 31-year-old woman were arrested.

    Acting on a complaint from a major Japanese cartoon production house, Customs officers conducted investigations and mounted the large-scale operation yesterday (March 23) to clamp down on the sale of pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs.

    Under the Copyright Ordinance, anyone who is found in possession of any infringing article for commercial purposes is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is four years in prison and a fine of $50,000 per infringing article.

    Members of the public are encouraged to report any piracy activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.

Ends/Thursday, March 24, 2005

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