Building blocks seized by border officials at Stansted Airport last month have now been confirmed as counterfeit toys, worth £18,000, and destroyed.

Destined for the UK, the LEGO imitation goods, which included superheroes Iron Man, Batman and Spiderman, were listed as ‘plastic blocks for decoration’. The 2,315 figures and assorted kits were sent from China in four separate packages, with a declared value of just $365.

“Smugglers are not concerned with the commodities that they deal in, only what will make them a profit,” said Border Force Regional Director Phillip Holliday.

“The challenge for Border Force is to stay one step ahead of the smugglers,” he said.

This discovery is the second in a recent spate of counterfeit toy importing, after nearly 500 fake Disney products bearing pictures from the Film ‘Frozen’ were found at Stansted.

“Members of the public can help to disrupt this trade by ensuring they only buy from genuine retailers and our advice, as always, is if a price appears too good to be true, it probably is,”

As the rights holders, LEGO can now decide whether or not to prosecute the importer privately.

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