Pirate DVD mastermind faces prison

The mastermind behind the UK's biggest pirate DVD manufacturing operation, capable of turning more than £1 million a week, is facing jail today.

Mirza Baig, 45, set up a factory
capable of producing thousands of illegal copies of British and Hollywood blockbusters every hour.

Production was halted in March last year after surveillance involving the Federation Against Copyright Theft. Officers discovered, thanks to text requests, that the DVDs were being distributed in bulk to delivery centres across London. Some distribution centres held 40,000 DVDs. Baig was convicted today at the Old Bailey of copyright infringement.

He will be sentenced next month with conspirators Ajay Singh Ahluwalia, 49, of Northwood, Zohab Malik, 29, of Harlington, Rahul Divan, 35,of Hayes, and Prikshat Sharma, 27, of West Drayton.