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August 21, 2007

Peel, ON 21Aug07 – For the past six months, the Peel Regional Police Service has been conducting an in-depth investigation into the production and distribution of illegal and pirated DVD movies within the Greater Toronto Area.

On Sunday, August 19, 2007, twenty-two locations were entered in the cities of Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington and Toronto. A total of eighteen people have been charged with over seventy criminal charges. Warrants for another eight are being sought. Investigators have seized in excess of 40,000 pirated DVD movies worth an estimated $800,000. Also seized were an assortment of sophisticated printing and stamping equipment as well as a quantity of cash. The manufacturing equipment seized has the capability of producing $21,000,000 worth of pirated DVD movies per year.

Acting Detective Sergeant John Mans, the Officer-in-Charge of Project “Hollywood” stated: “The investigation has revealed that this is demand-driven enterprise. Public awareness is key in recognizing that attending these open-air markets and purchasing these products constitutes a criminal offence. At the end of it all, people need to realize that their actions are nothing short of supporting organized crime.”

Gary Osmond, Director of Investigations – Anti-Piracy Operations at the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association said “Movie Piracy does not only affect the major Hollywood studios, it also impacts a wide spectrum of artists, manufacturers, distributors, producers, retailers, theatre operators, employees, consumers, and governments and is recognized as a serious and growing problem throughout the world”.

The investigation is ongoing and further arrests and charges are anticipated. Investigators will be liaising with additional investigative agencies, such as Revenue Canada and the Provincial Proceeds of Crime Unit.

Anyone who suspects involvement in either the sale and /or manufacturing or distributing of these Pirated DVD movies is requested to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS/8477.

For further information, please contact Constable J.P. Valade of the Media Relations Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 4027.