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Police have seized cash and TV and computer equipment in raids in North and West Belfast in an anti-piracy operation.

They removed a total of £77,000 in notes plus set-top boxes, computer equipment and mobile phones during raids on two business premises and two homes.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Reid, who leads the PSNI’s Intellectual Property Crime unit, said: “People think these are victimless crimes and wonder what harm it does to buy fake goods or pirated services.

"It is not harmless and there are real victims as a consequence of people’s actions in buying such products such as inadvertently supporting organised crime gangs and criminals through what might seem harmless purchases.



“Police need the support of the community to help tackle this hidden crime.”

The raids carried out by detectives from the PSNI's Reactive and Organised Crime Branch took place on Wednesday.

And they were part of an ongoing investigation into Intellectual Property Crime involving FACT – a UK intellectual property protection organisation - and the PSNI.

During the investigation aimed at preventing counterfeiting goods and services, officers seized a number of set-top boxes.

These smart set-top boxes act as a digital media receiver that can access videos, audio, photos and other content from internet-connected apps suitable to be screened on a TV.

Some even have a web browser and access content from connected devices in the house such as computers.

The smart set-top box then sends the content to display on a connected HDTV, or plays over a connected audio system.

Detective Inspector Pete Mullan said: “Officers seized a number of set top boxes and computer equipment as well as mobile phones and £77,000 in cash. This planned operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to disrupting crimes involving copyright, counterfeiting and piracy.”



Kieron Sharp, Director General of FACT, said: “Illegal TV set-top boxes are becoming a growing issue for the creative industries.

"Many people don’t realise that buying these illegal TV devices will have damaging consequences to the thousands of people working in the TV, film and sports sectors as well as the UK economy.

"Combatting these unlawful devices is one of our biggest priorities and so we would like to thank the PSNI for their swift action in disrupting this criminality.”