Raids net P100,000 in fake DvDs, CDs

A similar raid in January netted pirated material worth P500,000 bringing the total this year to P600,000. This is a colossal figure when compared to the P56,000 for the whole of 2012. The figures were revealed over the weekend by Staffnurse Lesetedi-Keothepile, a representative from the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property. She was speaking at the bus rank where BOMU members had marched from their offices to raise public awareness against piracy. She said that music piracy is on the rise in the country. “Even though some people do not know that piracy is a criminal offence, most of the pirates are fully aware that it is crime,” she said.

“Most of the people involved in this illicit trade are foreigners, particularly illegal immigrants. Some of the illegal immigrants pirate local art, music and plays in their countries and then they illegally cross into Botswana, where they then sell them to the public at cheaper prices.”