Charges for ringleaders, warnings for the small fry

Dispatch Online records that police in East London, South Africa, have recovered 1,849 counterfeit CDs and DVDs, with a sale more than R200,000, arresting three suspects during raids yesterday morning. Hughes said the raids were sparked by complaints police received from the public, the Southern African Federation against Copyright Theft (Safact) and the Recording Industry of South Africa (Risa).

The two suspect ringleaders were to appear in the East London Magistrates Court today. The vendors who have been selling the counterfeits have been warned and their names taken, so that if they are apprehended again they will be unable to plead they didn't know they were selling fakes.