IFPI Latin America Flash - major raid on pirate film and music facility

March, 14th, 2006

Paraguay's specialized anti-piracy unit (UTE) executed two search warrants March 09, 2006 which resulted in the dismantling of two active CDR/DVDr laboratories containing 140 burners that produced monthly on average 150-200 thousands units of illegal music and film destined for the Brazilian market. In addition, 16,000 film DVDRs, 7,000 music CDR's and 300,000 thousand covers were also seized as part of the raid.

This operation was the result of a two-week undercover operation funded by MPA and IFPI based on an ongoing cooperation agreement. Since working together both organizations have seized almost a million pirated CDRs and DVDrs and over three million blank discs in Paraguay. This working relationship has now been formalized through a Memorandum of Cooperation that will cover the entire Latin American region and will lead to more joint operations in the future

The UTE is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and was initially established two years ago to tackle the piracy problem in Paraguay. The U.S. Government provides support to the UTE as part of a program to combat intellectual property piracy around the world.

Congratulations to the Paraguayan authorities, Apdif Paraguay and MPA Brazil on a job well done.

For more information please contact
Emilio Garcia at egarcia@ifpi.org