Eighteen people have been arrested and 200,000 pirated Japanese cartoon VCDs worth $6 million seized by Customs officers.

Acting on a complaint, officers raided 22 shops in Mong Kok and seized 20,000 discs worth about $600,000 today. The VCDs included new releases and classics. They then raided two storage centres in North Point and Wan Chai seizing 180,000 discs worth $5.4 million.

They arrested 17 men, aged 19 to 60, and a woman, 31. Eight have been charged under Copyright Ordinance, the others have been released on bail pending further investigations.