Police officers from Eltham West Safer Neighbourhoods team and Borough Intelligence Unit working together with FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and Greenwich Council have discovered another large pirate DVD factory in South East London.
The intelligence-led operation brought police officers to Crossmead Road, Eltham.
Over 200 DVD burning trays were confiscated together with other equipment and several thousand DVDs ready to be despatched. Many of the DVDs featured the latest Hollywood blockbusters, including copies of The Dark Knight and Wall-E.
The counterfeit DVDs, which are sold for approximately £3 each, are known to generate substantial criminal profits for those involved in their production. This single location alone would have been capable of producing DVDs with a street value of over £400,000 per week.
Detective Inspector Chris Mayle in charge of Intelligence for the Borough of Greenwich said: ” The police, together with FACT and Greenwich Council are being successful in eradicating a substantial number of DVD factories present on the borough. Those who produce and those who buy counterfeit DVDs are contributing to a wider criminal network. I would strongly advise members of the public buying counterfeit DVDs to think twice about doing so. I would also urge anyone who notices anything suspicious in their neighbourhood to get in touch with the police or to call Crimestoppers.”
Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “Once again an intelligence led operation in partnership with Greenwich Police and Greenwich Council has successfully targeted a criminal enterprise manufacturing and supplying knock off DVDs for sale across London.
FACT welcomes the opportunity to assist the Police and Trading Standards in tackling this persistent and lucrative criminal trade.”
A male and a woman were arrested at the scene. Zouang Shaohong, 23 years old, and a 15 year old female were charged on 29th July and pleaded guilty at Woolwich Magistrate Court on 30th July 2008. They will appear again at Greenwich Magistrate Court on Friday 1st August.
The latest discovery in Crossmead Road follows a DVD factory found in Middle Park Avenue last week and another incident during which, in January 2008, police officers found the largest DVD factory of the last two years in Eltham.
To report the manufacture or sale of counterfeit DVDs call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods team.
