Four held over pirate disc factory

A factory manufacturing at least 5,000 pirated music and video discs a day has been discovered in Cheung Sha Wan.

The plant was allegedly run by a six-member syndicate that is believed to have had a packaging centre in Chai Wan, a godown in To Kwa Wan and retail outlets in Chai Wan, San Po Kong, Jordan and Western, said Chong Wai-ming, head of the Customs Department's Copyright Investigation Division.

He said the syndicate recruited teenagers and drug addicts to sell the merchandise.

On Wednesday, about 70 Customs officers arrested three men and a 16-year-old boy.

Manufacturing equipment worth $220,000 was seized. The suspects have been released on bail. Last night, officers were still searching for the alleged ringleader and two others.