JOHOR BARU: Pirated VCD and DVD peddlers, who used to scatter when raided, are now boldly turning round and intimidating enforcement officers.

Just this year alone, there have been six cases when Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department enforcement officers have been intimidated, even attacked.

Peddlers have rammed into the department's vehicles from behind, blocked their vehicles and even fought with the officers.

In the latest case, five men armed with bricks damaged two vehicles belonging to the department during a raid at a shopping mall in Jalan Kota Tinggi at 6.30pm on Friday.

The department's state enforcement chief Fahmi Kassim said his officers managed to nab two of the culprits after the vehicles' windscreens were smashed.

"The suspects aged 17 and 20 admitted to the crime and gave information on their three accomplices and the ones who hired them."

"We made a police report and the police will handle the matter," he said yesterday.

Fahmi said the department was determined to continue the raids, especially after the recent attack, as it showed that the peddlers were feeling the heat from anti-piracy operations conducted in the city.

"We are not intimidated and will continue stepping up such operations," he said, adding that though his men were packing guns, they had shown restraint.

When contacted, Deputy State CID Chief Asst Comm Che Yusoff Che Ngah said stern actions would be taken against those responsible.

"We are also on the hunt for the three other suspects," he said adding that those with information were urged to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

The latest raid on five premises at the mall led to the seizure of 5,497 discs, three DVD players and two television sets worth a total of RM16,000.

Some 500,000 pirated discs worth more than RM20mil have been seized from various premises in the city this year.