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.