Copyright commission nabs six, impounds N4m pirated goods

Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Port Harcourt office, has arrested six suspected telecommunication pirates during an anti-piracy operation carried out in Rivers and Beyelsa states.

The commission also confiscated N4 million worth of pirated goods in the two-day weekend raid.

Port Harcourt zonal manager of NCC, Nkechi Ezinma, told The Guardian that the commission went on two days surveillance, with the aid of the police, following a tip-off.

Ezinma said: “We carried out a detailed surveillance and located the targeted places. During the raid, two persons involved in illegal re-distribution of cables were arrested in Rivers, while four were arrested in Bayelsa. They registered with DStv and used modulators and splitters to distribute to the masses and charged as low as N500. We noticed that one person could cover over 50 persons with the illegal business.

“We got a directive from the acting director-general of NCC, Mr. Mark Obasi, to carry out the anti-piracy operation. This is the first operation we have done ever since he assumed duty, and it is successful.”

According to her, the new NCC boss has warned pirates to desist from the act, as it is no longer business as usual.