Police shut down huge illegal DVD packaging operation

Police seized a significant number of printing plates when they raided BDP on the Ironbridge Estate in Wembley, North West London.

The plates had been used to produce packs for DVDs of films such as Watchmen, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader and Gran Torino.

The raid last month was the result of a joint operation between the City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft).

FACT estimated the operation had printed millions of covers over the past year. The DVDs and printers are still in police storage.

Police arrested four people, who have been released on bail, in connection with the production and distribution of counterfeit DVD covers and money laundering.

BDP was unavailable to comment when Packaging News contacted the company this morning and has not returned calls.

The arrests follow a similar raid at an illegal DVD factory in Southall, West London in February that led to the arrest of five people and the seizure of copying equipment and discs.

"This type of criminality is often looked upon as a victimless offence," said City of London Police's Det Chief Inspector Dave Service.

"However, the proceeds gained are massive and can be used to fund other criminal operations while substantial damage is inflicted on the film industry, and on the UK film industry in particular."