Following a lengthy investigation customs officials have confiscated more than 14,300 pairs of fake sandals that were found in a container which arrived from the Far East and was on its way to North Africa.

The Customs Department said it started investigating the case when the documentation provided to the Maltese authorities on the contents of the container was not in order.

Upon its arrival in Malta, the customs officers carried out an inspection of the containers’ contents which should have been plastic merchandise.

Inside, customs officers discovered 10,728 pairs of fake Nike sandals and 3,600 pairs of fake Adidas sandals. Moreover, customs officials also found 3,600 pairs of Zara sandals and 2,040 pairs of RCM shoes as well as 71 boxes containing metal tubes which were used to cover up the rest of the merchandise.

This is the 11th container containing fake products that have been confiscated by Customs since the beginning of the year.