ELSPA Arrests Scottish Game Pirate

The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, the U.K. equivalent of the Entertainment Software Association, announced that its two-year effort to arrest one of Scotland's most prolific game pirates has drawn to a close with the successful apprehending of the suspect. The unnamed man, who has a prior criminal record of counterfeiting was caught in his home by ELSPA investigators, together with local police in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The officials searched his one-bedroom apartment, finding a secret passage to a second-floor operation where he carried out his counterfeiting and console-modding operation. Also found on the site was 250,000 pounds ($435,874 USD) worth of media, a safe containing jewels and 2,000 pounds in cash, as well as counterfeited PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube titles. "ELSPA continues to crack down on those who seek to profit illegally from selling copied games," said ELSPA deputy director general Michael Rawlinson. "We would like to thank Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and Trading Standards department for all their hard work and cooperation in helping to prevent counterfeiters from undermining legitimate local business."