Hotline on economic, fiscal crimes

The interior ministry has set up a hotline telephone on matters concerning economic and fiscal offenses, Alexei Orlov, chief of the interior ministry's main board for economic crimes, said at a press conference this Monday.

"The telephone number 239-68-67 is available round the clock for anyone to share information on economic and tax crimes," said Orlov.

He also reported that a criminal group engaged in the illicit manufacture, storage and wholesale of counterfeit computer mediums had been arrested the other day in Moscow.

"The illicit warehouse of false products was located at one of the city's markets. A search has led to the disclosure and confiscation of about 500,000 counterfeit computer mediums - mp3 and mp4 CDs bearing software and works with copyrights belonging to Russian and foreign owners," said Orlov.

Besides, databases on owners of Moscow and regional vehicles as well as on persons who have received passports for foreign trips, interior ministry reports for 2003, Moscow telephone owners and other data were discovered. Criminal proceedings have been started.