U.S. CUSTOMS NABS $100 MILLION IN PIRATED COMPUTER SOFTWARE

U.S. CUSTOMS NABS $100 MILLION IN PIRATED COMPUTER SOFTWARE

   U.S. Customs has seized $100 million worth in counterfeit computer software in Los Angeles and arrested three individuals in connection to the smuggling operation.

   The seizure, which was made during an 18-month investigation named “Operation White Horse,” is considered the largest in terms of pirated software in the agency’s history.

   Tony Lu, 47, who owned Yojin International in El Monte, Calif., Vincent Koo, 44, and Wilson Liu, 39, were arrested by Customs agents. Lu and Koo had repeatedly bribed who they believed was a corrupt Customs special agent. Customs said the agent was actually working undercover. Lu and Koo also used false statements on import paperwork.

   Seized in connection with these arrests were a 40-foot container of counterfeit computer software, and packaging material valued in excess of $100 million, and two 40-foot boxes containing 85,000 cartons of counterfeit Marlboro cigarette.

   Customs agents in another search of a storage unit at Storage USA in La Puente, Calif., found more than 47,000 copies of counterfeit Microsoft and Symantec software and 21 cartons of counterfeit end user license agreements, manuals, barcodes, adhesive labels and registration cards.

   Federal penalties for the charges of smuggling, conspiracy and bribery range from two to five years per offense charged. The investigation is continuing, Customs said.