CD, DVD vendors held in T&T crackdown

02.MAR.07

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Police arrested 15 people around Port-of-Spain Monday, in a raid aimed at curbing illegal vending in the capital.

Among those detained was a 48-year-old Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain woman who was allegedly selling beer from a cooler, outside a Queen Street racing pool.

Eight of the vendors were held on copyright offences relating to several hundred DVD copies of movies and audio CDs seized in the raid, which began shortly after 8 a.m.{{more}}

Those arrested were held on Frederick, Henry and Queen Streets and South Quay.

Up to late Monday afternoon, officials of the Copyright Organisation (COTT) were assisting police in determining whether the music and movie discs were pirated copies.

Immigration officials were also expected to interview some of the detained vendors to determine whether they are illegal Guyanese immigrants.

The operation by officers of the Central Police Station was spearheaded by Senior Superintendent Steve Waldron, and conducted by Acting ASP Joanne James, Inspector Peter Reyes and Sgt Basdeo Ramdhanie.