Pirated Passion DVDs seized in US

The Passion of the Christ was released in US cinemas last week

Counterfeit copies of The Passion of the Christ were among more than 1,500 DVDs, CDs and video cassettes seized by police in Philadelphia.

The haul was discovered when police stopped a car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A 30-year-old man is being held by police.

Also included were copies of the movie remake of Starsky and Hutch, which only opens in US cinemas this weekend.

Police said they had contacted the FBI to help with the investigation.

The arrested man, who was not named, was being held on an outstanding warrant for drug possession, police said.

Oscar-winning

They said he had more than 1,000 CDs of recently-released music and about 475 DVDs, with a total potential value of $300,000 (£160,000).

Police also recovered copies of the Samuel L Jackson thriller Twisted and serial killer drama Monster, featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Charlize Theron.

Police spokesman Sergeant Anthony DeLuca said the suspect admitted buying the items in New York for $5,000 (£2,600).

He said there was "no doubt" they were counterfeit, and it appeared that someone had taped the movies during a cinema screening.