GWENT is being flooded by thousands of illegal DVDs linked to a drug and people smuggling operation in China, trading standards officaers revealed today.

Officers from Torfaen council last week seized more then 200 pirate DVDs in Cwmbran, including titles such as Alien Versus Predator and Alfie, which have only just been released in UK cinemas.

A man, described as an immigrant, was selling the DVDs from a bag. Police are investigating.

Andrew Meaney, senior fair trade officer at Torfaen council, said: "We think he was the end of a chain that goes back to drug and people smuggling operations in China. We are getting immigrants selling these on the streets out of bags and it all links back to organised crime."

The officers said they stumbled upon the DVD haul when looking for illegal fireworks at a workplace in Cwmbran.

The poor quality discs, produced in China and shot in Chinese cinemas, were being sold in pubs and workplaces in Cwmbran for £5 each.

"When these films are released in shops they would retail at anything between £15 and £20, so we are looking at up to £4,000 worth of lost sales in this one seizure alone," said Mr Meaney.

Discs of hardcore pornography, unclassifiable in the UK, were also among items found.

Mr Meaney warned that the group is operating all over Gwent.

"Without a doubt there are more people out there selling these DVDs. The sales are fairly organised and on a regular basis. We are being flooded with them. People may think they are getting a bargain for Christmas but they are very poor quality and will not play on some players. And some discs might contain stonger material than you thought."

In Newport, officers seized dozens of counterfeit DVDs at Pill Cattle Market last week. The sellers ran off and left the DVDs.

On October 31 Monmouthshire officers seized more than 500 counterfeit discs at Chepstow market. They said the sales were probably linked to organised crime.

Officers from all Gwent councils are stepping up inspections in the run-up to Christmas.

Blaenau Gwent council seized more than 10,000 counterfeit discs in two raids on addresses in Brynmawr and Nantyglo in September.