Counterfeit DVDs are usually transported by air, customs said

About 15,000 DVDs, including titles such as The Passion of the Christ and Kill Bill 2, were seized on 30 April.

A spokesman for South East customs said the DVDs, sent from Malaysia to Dusseldorf, were being imported into the UK using a courier service.

It is the first time such a haul has been stopped trying to get through the Channel tunnel, the spokesman said.

Our frontline officers are constantly looking, not only for Class A drugs and revenue goods, but for the whole range of prohibited and restricted goods Peter Robinson, Customs

Michael Buchan, customs liaison officer for the Federation against Copyright Theft (Fact), said: "We have been working with Customs at the airports for some time now.

"Given the level of successes, it was inevitable the counterfeiters would look for alternative routes to import into the UK."

Peter Robinson, from Customs, said: "Our frontline officers are constantly looking, not only for Class A drugs and revenue goods, but for the whole range of prohibited and restricted goods.

"Because of the nature of the goods they are generally sold at boot fair and similar outlets, no VAT is paid, resulting in loss of revenue for the Treasury and unfair competition for legitimate businesses."

Details of the seizure have only just been released because it was part of an on-going operation.

Other titles in the haul included films not yet released in the UK including The Alamo, The Whole Ten Yards, with Bruce Willis, and The Punisher starring John Travolta.

No-one had been arrested over the seizure, customs said.