AfterDawn: News

EU's 'largest' piracy gang gets busted

Police authorities in Poland have announced the crackdown of the EU's "largest ever" gang selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs.

"This is the largest gang pirating CDs and DVDs ever cracked in the EU," Warsaw city police spokesperson Anna Kedzierzawska added. "We are in contact with police forces from other countries."

Over 55,000 DVDs and CDs were seized and four pirates were arrested including the alleged "mastermind" of the ring, "Krzysztof M.," 38 years of age.



Krzysztof M. used two legal audio-visual copying centers in Warsaw and Rybnik as host to his piracy operation. The merchandise was then distributed all around the EU.

Authorities say the gang was in operation since at least October of last year.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Feb 2009 22:57

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• 6 comments

• b18bek9

  nice looks like 1 down a million more to go. Catching one or two ppl isnt much its like spraying ur house with raid to get rid of ants it only slows them down but doesnt stop them.

  12.2.2009 01:00 #1

• attar

  It makes the Police feel good - and that's not a bad thing.
  We have the same thing here in Canada with drugs.
  Every now and again a big press conference is held with displays of busted drug hauls "worth [insert absurd number] gazillion dollars on the street".
  It never seems to affect the price on the street - but it gives the media something to do and the border grocery police a shot at a ten second clip on the nightly news.

  12.2.2009 05:40 #2

• ksywa

  polak potrafi=yes we can...

  12.2.2009 19:08 #3

• borhan9

  Originally posted by b18bek9: nice looks like 1 down a million more to go. Catching one or two ppl isnt much its like spraying ur house with raid to get rid of ants it only slows them down but doesnt stop them.Totally agree with you there mate the problem with this kinda thing is that they catch one and two seconds later a new outfit starts up. They can not stop or slow down this at all.

  12.2.2009 20:37 #4

• plazma247

  They would probably do better, if they didnt just then sell off all the seazed equiptment at an auction to the next lot of counterfiters lol.

  13.2.2009 02:45 #5

• pmshah

  Originally posted by attar: It makes the Police feel good - and that's not a bad thing.
  We have the same thing here in Canada with drugs.
  Every now and again a big press conference is held with displays of busted drug hauls "worth [insert absurd number] gazillion dollars on the street".
  It never seems to affect the price on the street - but it gives the media something to do and the border grocery police a shot at a ten second clip on the nightly news.You failed to mention one important aspect of the situation. Busts happen only when the installments are not paid in time.
  
  I recently visited my family in Missisauga, Ontario. My uncle took me around to a local flea market. One can buy practically anything that can be pirated, from designer goods to DVDs and cracked satellite receivers. This is a know fact to the entire Asian community but apparently not to the authorities.

  18.2.2009 22:51 #6