Andre Yoskowitz
4 Sep 2007 10:48
After becoming infamous for piracy busts in Malaysia and elsewhere around Asia, the DVD sniffing dogs Lucky and Flo have finally hit the United States, home of the MPAA.
Credited with the bust of three operations in Queens, New York, Lucky and Flo helped with the seizure of thousands of pirated DVDs and the arrest of the operators of the retail outlets.
District Attorney Brown said, "For the first time in the United States, specially trained DVD sniffing dogs have actively participated in a criminal investigation aimed at combating DVD piracy. The dogs passed with flying colors by successfully ferreting out hidden contraband at a number of locations. Man's best friend has become a DVD counterfeiter's worst nightmare as we now welcome this latest weapon into our law enforcement anti-piracy arsenal."
"The MPAA has a multi-pronged approach to fighting piracy, including public outreach and enforcement. And since last year we've added two more very talented crime fighters to our arsenal, Lucky and Flo, the world's first DVD-sniffing canines," said John Malcolm, Executive VP and Director of Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations for the MPAA.
Lucky and FLo are in the United States to help raise awareness about the dangers of film theft and its strain on the economy. Mr. Malcolm also talked about the "dangerous nature" of criminal syndicates that engage in the sales of pirated DVDs.
"I commend the Queens District Attorney for his efforts to fight film piracy in his jurisdiction and for utilizing these amazing pups in yesterday's raid. We are pleased and proud to assist him in his ongoing efforts to combat this pernicious crime that puts money into the hands of serious criminals and deprives creative artists of their right to make an honest living creating works of movie magic that we all enjoy," concluded Mr. Malcolm.
The three defendants arrested in Queens currently face up to 4 years in prison if convicted of second-degree trademark counterfeiting.
Source:
Slyck