The Associated Press
ATLANTA- U.S. federal and local authorities arrested 11 West African men in a raid on two warehouses and seized more than US$14 million (euro11 million) in pirated CDs and DVDs.
Authorities also found disk burners and counterfeit clothing in the Wednesday raid at an industrial complex in southwest Atlanta.
During the raid, 10 of the men were found hiding in a bathroom. Another man broke a skylight and tried to get away over the rooftop of the complex. But he was captured by officers around the perimeter of the complex. A stun gun had to be used against two of the men, authorities said.
Rooms in the back of the warehouses were set up as stores, with apparently pirated CDs and DVDs stacked on shelves.
The DVDs included recent films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean 2,” “Employee of the Month,” “Jackass Number 2" and “Snakes on a Plane.” There were also TV series and some pornography.
A sign near the entrance said the place was open for business.
An upstairs room contained a jewelry case full of watches, shelves of purses and Nike shoes and racks of T-shirts. Four CD and DVD burners were found, each able to burn 10 disks at a time.
The men face state and federal charges of illegal reproduction of copyrighted material. Agents said they would also investigate the men’s immigration status. The suspects’ names were not immediately released.