The search is said to be in response to the sale and distribution of console mod chips across North America. Some mod chips are said to allow users to play counterfeit copies of Wii games.

Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director of anti-piracy, commented:

"Nintendo and its developers and publishers lost an estimated $762 million in sales in 2006 due to piracy of its products. Nintendo's anti-piracy team works closely with law enforcement officials worldwide to seize mod chips and counterfeit software. Since April, Nintendo has seized more than 91,000 counterfeit Wii discs globally."