SHOPPERS are being warned not to buy counterfeit merchandise after thousands of fake goods were seized at Southampton port.

In the financial year of 2014-15 the UK Border Force detained more than 1.6 million Intellectual Property (IP) infringing goods across the country.

The genuine retail value of those goods would have been £56 million.

In Southampton port 11,664 bottles of perfume including Paco Rabanne and Issay Miyake were seized and 4,885 Samsung and Apple phone cases also detained.

Once items are detained, Border Force work with the owners of big brands to find out if they are genuine and if the are fake the goods are destroyed and the rights holders can decide whether to privately prosecute the importers.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “The international trade in counterfeits is linked to serious and organised crime and undercuts honest traders, damaging our economy.

“Customers are also left out of pocket with inferior and potentially dangerous goods.

“We are determined to crack down on this criminality and have Border Force officers working 24 hours a day at ports, airports and mail sorting centres to identify and seize counterfeits.”

A spokesperson for the Intellectual Property Office said: "Tireless work by the Border Force and IPO has sent a clear message to criminals trying to benefit from Intellectual Property theft.

“The UK is a world leader in IP enforcement - the government will support legitimate rights holders and aggressively pursue those breaking the law.

"Counterfeiting and IP theft harms businesses and consumers alike. Christmas shoppers looking for a deal this year should be wary of bargains that look too good to be true, from cut price alcohol to heavily discounted electronics, and report anything suspicious." Border Force North Deputy Director, Emma Porter said: “Counterfeiters will look to capitalise and cash in where there is a demand for a product and this year our officers have seized all sorts of fake goods - from beauty products to food and electrical goods.

“We urge consumers to be careful with their purchases. If the price appears too good to be true – either at a car boot sale, a market stall or online – it probably is.”

Anyone who has been sold counterfeit goods or knows someone who is selling them is asked to contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.