Mexican Piracy Raid Seizes Over 90,000 Copied Games

A raid conducted by law enforcement officials in Mexico's San Juan de Dios Market seized over 20 tons of contraband, including video games and video game accessories. Executed by Mexico's Procuraduría General de la República and Agencia Federal de Investigación, the raid uncovered some 91,200 illegal game copies, 130,000 game cover inserts, and 3,200 empty game boxes in booths suspected of containing pirated software. According to trade body Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the San Juan de Dios Market, which is one of the largest markets in Guadalajara, is "notorious" for harboring and selling illicit goods, including pirated games for various platforms. The ESA investigated the area during the months preceding the raid and hopes that it will decrease the sale of pirated goods in the region. Mexican authorities conducted a similar operation earlier this year in the Tepito area in Mexico City, descending on game duplication facilities and storage locations, seizing roughly 290 DVD/CD burners, 28,800 copies of pirated games, and 900,000 game cover inserts. Piracy in markets such as San Juan de Dios hurts businesses engaging in the legitimate distribution and retailing of computer and video games," says ESA CEO Michael D. Gallagher. He continues, “We commend Mexican law enforcement officials for their actions in this raid and are committed to fully supporting authorities around the world who conduct these kinds of enforcement actions.”