The US Customs Service executed 37 search warrants in 27 US
cities in connection with Operation Buccaneer. An additional 19
search warrants were issued in the UK, Australia, England, Finland
and Norway. Six British individuals have already been arrested in
connection with the operation.
The software pirated by these groups included business software,
firewall and other security software, and copyrighted games, music
and digital videos. According to US Customs, Operation Buccaneer is
the first federal investigation of internet software piracy to
reach across international borders.
Following a 15-month investigation, the search warrants named
major universities such as MIT and UCLA, businesses and residences
around the US. Officers have begun seizing computers, software and
other equipment.
“Operation Buccaneer is the largest and most extensive
investigation of its kind," said US Customs Commissioner Robert
Bonner. "This investigation underscores the severity and scope of a
multi-billion-dollar software swindle over the internet, as well as
the vulnerabilities of this technology to outside attack.”
According to US Customs, the loosely affiliated Warez community
is responsible for nearly 90% of the internet sites that offer
pirated software. Operation Buchaneer targeted a group known as
DrinkOrDie, described by officials as the most successful Warez
group. DrinkOrDie became well known when it released Windows 95 a
few days before Microsoft’s official release. Its web site has been
shut down.
