Seizures and discoveries last week include one in Russia, which yielded more than half a million pirated DVDs and CDs… In Canada, 44,000 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes have been seized; police believe the fakes had been shipped to Canada from China… Similarly in South Africa, counterfeit cigarettes and pirated DVDs were impounded by the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) national enforcement unit… In Malaysia, officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) raided a factory producing pirated DVDs. $1.2 million worth of machinery was seized with the capacity of producing 14 million pirated discs a year… Other seizures of pirated DVDs took place in Taiwan and the UK.

Cases and outcomes last week include an Australian man being arrested for importing and selling more than $220,000 worth of pirated movie and music DVDs… In the US, 16 people have been arrested for a joint counterfeit clothing and narcotics distribution network; the police raided two stores and seized more than $50,000 worth of counterfeit goods… In Nigeria, State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs has sealed off 11 illegal pharmacies and medicine shops arresting six people.

Policy developments last week include ministers in Ireland calling for extra powers to be given to the Garda to curb the sale of pirated DVDs by allowing them to seize goods and vehicles without a warrant… In Bahrain, there are plans to double the fine for anyone caught using pirated computer software.