$.25M in books seized in copyright raid

OFFICERS from the St Joseph Police Station seized more than $250,000 in illegally duplicated books and arrested the owner of the Curepe Stationery Ware-house and his son yesterday for breach of the Copyright Act. Police also seized a bookbinder. Police sources said the store has been under surveillance for more than two weeks and, armed with a search warrant, swooped down on the building yesterday.

While some genuine books were found in the store, they believe most were brought to the book store where they were recopied, mass produced and sold. The father and son are expected to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate on Monday. Police believe they have smashed a major copyright ring. The exercise, coordinated by ACP Cooper, was headed by Snr Supt Ghany and included Insp Modeste, Sgts Modete and Daniel, acting Sgt Worrel and PC Ramjattan. Acting Sgt Jude Worrel is investigating.