By Candice Boyle
POLICE seized more than 100,000 pirated DVDs during a raid in Footscray last week.
It was the largest stockpile of pirated DVDs uncovered by police and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) this year.
In addition to the seizure in Footscray, which included 51 DVD burners, police and the federation uncovered a further 600 pirated DVDs during a raid on a West Footscray business.
AFACT public relations manager Stephen Jenner said the raids followed investigations and surveillance of the two businesses that operated out of shops in Footscray and West Footscray.
Mr Jenner said the Footscray business set-up had the potential to pirate 1.2 million DVDs with an estimated value of $4.5 million every year.
“Significant operations like these have huge flow on affects for legitimate businesses in the area,” he said.
“Surrounding video shops and business really suffer from these illegal activities.”
Mr Jenner said movie piracy carried a maximum penalty of $60,500 and five years in prison for each offence.
Mr Jenner said a 21-year-old West Footscray man and a 40-year-old Braybrook woman were helping police with their investigations.
Anonymous tip-offs about suspected piracy activities can be reported by logging on to www.afact.org.au, calling AFACT’s free hotline on 1800 251 996 or calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
