DETECTIVES have seized 44,274 DVDs worth up to £203,000 as part of a crackdown on internet sales of counterfeit goods.

During a raid on an isolated detached home between Thirsk and Easingwold, North Yorkshire, officers also seized £3,500 in cash from the property and arrested a man and a woman both in their 30s.

The suspected bogus DVDs, which were being sold through an internet shopping site, include various US drama series, including 16,644 discs of Homeland, contained in 4,160 boxed sets.

There were also 3,732 copies of the musical series Glee in 622 boxed sets, 3,438 copies of the Supernatural series and other dramas including Bones, The Killing, House, Desperate Housewives and NCIS.

The pair have been released on bail while investigations continue.

The search warrant was carried out last Tuesday (January 22) with assistance from the Federation Against Copyright Theft.

Detective Sergeant Dave Edwards said: “Trading in fake goods harms everyone from the unsuspecting buyer to legitimate businesses and the copyright owner.

“In financially strained times it could mean the difference between a business surviving or not, potential job losses and harm to the economic climate.”