“We applaud the vigilance and quick thinking by the UTE in detecting the illegal contents of these suitcases and the Prosecutor’s immediate action to confiscate them,” said Michael Gallagher, CEO of ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “We established a Paraguayan anti-piracy program specifically to support local efforts to address the traffic of pirated products through the country. We are very grateful for the leadership of Paraguay Customs Director Maria M. Diaz de Vivar de Cocianni, Coordinator of UTE Colonel Felix Ruben Cruz and Prosecutor Carmen Gubettich de Cattoni in escalating enforcement efforts.”

The arrested individual, Ali Hani Zeineddine, was charged with criminal copyright and trademark infringement. The seized disc product includes games for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, including Grand Theft Auto, Medal of Honor, FIFA Street II, Call of Duty 3 and 4, Midnight Club 3, Crash of the Titans and Ratatouille, among others.

"The computer and video game industry is our fastest-growing entertainment industry, providing tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and domestic and foreign sales in the billions,” said Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA). “Preventing game piracy, both here and abroad, translates into direct benefits for us here at home and to the U.S. economy."