THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 37,000 pirated and pornographic CDs and DVDs, which were being transported from Beemapally in two cars for distribution, were seized by the Anti-Piracy Cell of the Crime Branch. The officers arrested five wholesale traders--Ajeeb, Hainesh (both of Kottarakara), and Dileep, Nissam, and Kunju, from Kayamkulam, who were in the two cars. Anti-Piracy Cell, Rajpal Meena said the cars that left Beemapally on April 11 night were intercepted following a tip-off, and taken into custody at Kazhakuttom by a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Anti-Piracy Cell) S Rafeeq and Circle Inspector Stewart Keeler.

Among the CDs were those of some new Malayalam releases. According to Meena, the police received information from the arrested about retail traders in pirated CDs in other States. Efforts were on to nab them, he said. The Anti-Piracy Cell had raided some shops at Beemapally two days ago and had registered a case in connection with the sale of pirated CDs. Meena said the police would take stern steps to curb the sale of the pirated and pornographic CDs in Beemapally. The seizure had proved the claims of traders, that they do not deal in pirated CDs, wrong. Meena said the cell would also initiate action against those posting films on websites and those downloading them. The servers used for posting the films were mainly in the United States and Europe, he added.