Police seize pirate CDs in market raid
Strathclyde Police have seized more than u1 million worth of bootleg CD software and arrested 17 people in an early morning dawn swoop on Glasgow's notorious Barras market.
Police sealed off all the roads surrounding the Barras in the city's east end before swamping the market with 145 officers.
The dodgy software was part of a u2 million haul of contraband goods, which included fake designer clothing, perfume, trainers, bootleg tobacco, and pirate videos.
Undeclared VAT revenues of more than u350,000 were uncovered by Customs and Excise, and 30 fraudulent benefit claimants were hooked by Benefit Agency investigators who took part in the raid, along with Trading Standards officers.
The assault on the Barras followed pressure from Glasgow retailers who complained that illegal trading in the market had harmed their businesses.
Superintendant David Christie said: "We think we have severely curtailed the activities of the illegal traders. We arrested 17 out of the 19 we targeted - two people just didn't turn up on the day."
Strathclyde Police will target other markets in the region in the run-up to Christmas.
The Barras raid formed part of Glasgow's Spotlight Initative, a three-month campaign.