Singapore's efforts at stamping out intellectual property violations such as video piracy were given a recent boost by a major raid by the police.
A five-man team from the Central Police Division responded to a tip-off in busting an illegal VCD network in the Bugis Village area. The raid led to the seizure of more than 7,000 VCDs and close to 2,000 CD-ROMs, having a estimated street value amounting to $90,000.
The illegal network operated by openly displaying the latest movie titles such as Bats and Hollow Man, alongside uncensored and obscene VCDs at a makeshift stall. Its supplies secretly came from a deserted-looking but well-fortified shop-house that was just a few metres away from the stall. A lookout equipped with a walkie-talkie was stationed to warn of police raids.
