DVD pirating ‘everywhere’

This weekend’s massive seizure of pirated DVDs, the largest such haul in Canadian history, is just the tip of the iceberg, in a growing problem, authorities say.

Police seized at least 250,000 bootleg movies in raids carried out at three malls in York Region and Scarborough, including such recent blockbuster titles as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which only arrived in theatres on Nov. 18, and Rent, released on the big screen last Wednesday. But despite the crackdown, police said, it’s likely the pirating operations will continue to flourish. “ I guarantee that if you go back to those malls, you’ll see the guys setting up shop again,” said Toronto police Det. Const. Maher AbdelMalik. “ They used to be more discreet, but now they’re showing up everywhere.” “The (pirating operations) are like ( marijuana) grow houses. You shut one down and another two pop up. It’s a lucrative business,” said York Region Det. Const. Mark Elliott. Both officers agreed that public education will go a long way toward helping wipe out the piracy.

Saturday’s operation was a joint effort between the RCMP, Canada Customs, York and Toronto police, and motion picture officials. Six merchants at Markham’s Pacific Mall were charged with fraud and possession of stolen property, while Toronto police charged a total of 15 people after a raid on a mall near Sheppard Ave. E. and Brimley Rd.