Movie piracy ring caught in Canada
December 20, 2010
A massive movie piracy ring is being investigated, and the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association is working behind the scenes.
The Greater Toronto Area Federal Enforcement Section of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has partnered with the Toronto Police Service in a joint investigation. Ten search warrants have been executed at businesses operating at the Oriental Centre, located in Scarborough.
The police and the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association (CMPDA) have received numerous complaints that thousands of pirated copies of new Hollywood titled movies were being sold at multiple businesses within the mall on a daily basis, including movies which are currently playing in cinemas
“Enforcement efforts by the film industry and police have removed hundreds of thousands of counterfeit DVDs from circulation. We’ve found that the real success has been in effective and co-ordinated law enforcement, as demonstrated today by the RCMP and the Toronto Police Service’s 42 Division.”
Police have seized thousands of counterfeit DVDs and have laid over 30 charges in a yearlong operation. “We take this kind of criminal activity very seriously, and we intend to pursue vigorously those who break the law,” said Staff Sergeant David Rydzik of 42 Division Toronto Police Servic
The investigation is ongoing and charges of Fraud, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Copyright Act offences are anticipated.