Because the Italian Ministry of Interiors was asked by the Italian Federation of the Music Industry and FPM, Federation against music piracy to put more pressure on pirated CDs/DVDs during Christmas time, the Italian police raided a lot of houses, shops and street vendors.
The actions coordinated by the Undersecretary of Interiors, Mantovano, the Italian police forces operated a major nationwide ckackdown on the sales and distribution of counterfeit music, DVD, software and videogames
Fiscal Police, Carabinieri and Police made seizure of pirate products at retailers, distributors, private homes, street vendors, express couriers. In the week beginning on the 9th of December raids heve been carried on the national territory. Telecom Police carried out operation "Master Buster" where 454 retail stores were raided, 137 people have been referred to the Judicial Authority 77.832 CD, 5.328 DVD, 6.207 videocassets and, 17 cd burners were seized. Fiscal Police near Milan seized 11.000 CD and DVD at an express courier premises. 7 senegales identified as the recipient of the shipment were arrested. In Milan police arrested 2 illegal distributors recipients of 23.000 pirate CDs from Naples. |
The Carabinieri arrested 8 people in Naples during a raid on a warehouse near the central railway station. 9,800 cds were seized. In Salerno the Police arrested a major courier of illegal cds. More than 3000 cds and a car were seized. The products were destined to street vendors active in the weeks before Christmas.
Two weeks ago a Court in Naples handed down heavy jail sentences to an Italian family involved in music piracy. Four Frattasio brothers were sentenced to four and a half years in jail.
