HOLLYWOOD Latin music pirates beware. The Recording Industry Assn. of America has beefed up its attack bootleggers.
But only after heated protests by the chiefs of several Latin music labels, who charged that the org paid more attention to piracy losses of pop music product.
And it's still not enough.
Even with the stepped up effort, in which 80% of the music seized by RIAA investigators and local law enforcement across more than a dozen raids during 1996 is Latin, some industry execs aren't satisfied.
They want more done to combat the losses caused by counterfeiters and importers, which cost Latin labels north of $800 million worldwide and $300 million-plus in the U.S. alone.
Unlike homevideo pirates, whose retail operations usually center on street vendors peddling counterfeit vids, general merchandise stores, flea markets and the occasional gas station minimarket comprise the lion's share of locations where illegal CDs and tapes can be …