Hong Kong Customs officers has mounted a large-scale operation against manufacturing, distribution and retailing of pirated optical discs (PODs) in MongKok and Yuen Long, with the total POD seizure value of 1.04 million HK dollars (US$134,193).

According to a government press release on Friday, Customs officers raided a POD replicating center, two storage centers and six POD outlets, seizing about 40,000 PODs.

Three men and four women, aged between 21 and 46, were arrested. They included a 39-year-old woman, believed to be the syndicate mastermind.

During the operation, a syndicate believed to have been involved in PODs peddling activities from manufacturing to retailing in Yuen Long was smashed.

A spokesman for Customs and Excise stressed that the department would continue its effort in clamping down on piracy activities, including rooting out piracy syndicates.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2005)