Customs hail fake trainer seizure

The trainers were seized during a seven-week operation

Customs officials have seized more than 50,000 pairs of counterfeit trainers over seven weeks at Coventry Airport.

The UK Border Agency said the shoes were copies of brands such as Adidas and Nike manufactured in China and imported into the UK.

The country's largest post parcel depot is based at the airport.

Chris Bagley, of the UK Border Agency, said profits made from smuggling fake goods were often ploughed back into other crime such as drug smuggling.

Alan Dursley, brand protection manager for Nike UK, said: "We are very pleased with the success of this operation and it illustrates our determination to work with all relevant agencies to clamp down on the problem of counterfeited Nike goods."

The trainers seized during the operation, which took place in July and August, have since been destroyed.