Police have arrested six individuals in Onitsha Anambra state, Nigeria, for for illegally transmitting Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) signals, with hi-tech electrical gadgets valued at 7 million naira (US$44,500) recovered from the suspects.
The raid was carried out by officials of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) with the support of officers of the Nigerian Police.
Describing the raid to newsmen, the commission’s Director of Enforcement Austin Amodu said the suspects were decrypting DSTV signals with the sophisticated gadgets and installing illegal decoders in homes. He said more than 200 homes in the city are using the decoders for fees as low as 500 naira.
During the raid, several items, including cable television signal enhancers, boosters, senders, smart cards, cables and decoders, were seized.
The suspects are currently remanded in police custody and will be charged in court as soon as all investigations are completed.
The NCC’s director of enforcement added the commission was not limiting its raid to these suspects. He said the NCC will soon identify those who are benefitting from the illegal DSTV services, who will not be shielded from possible litigation.
While commending security operatives for assisting the NCC in the operation, he asked Nigerians to ensure they engage the services of genuine, duly registered and accredited cable television networks.
He concluded by saying the commission will be carrying out similar raids across the country on a regular basis.
