More than 5,000 counterfeit items confiscated in one of the biggest operations in the borough

This is a small part of the �1million haul of counterfeit goods seized by police when they raided Wembley Market yesterday morning.

Undercover officers teamed up with Brent and Harrow Trading Standard Services (BHTSS) to storm the world-renowned Sunday event just before 9am.

A four-hour search of nine stalls, and a house in Midlands, resulted in the confiscation of more than 5,000 items with a street value of more than �1m.

The seized goods are still being counted but are thought to be around 804 pairs of trainers 2,862 articles of clothing, 695 handbags, 250 purses and 680 items of jewellery.

All brandished well known designer names including Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Superdry, Lyle & Scott, Stone Island, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Prada, Tiffany, Pandora, Juicy Couture, Mulberry, Burberry, Christian Dior, Links of London, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Jack Wills, Bench, Swarovski, Ugg, Gucci, Hermes, MAC, Chanel and Jimmy Choo.

Eight stall holders who were arrested have been bailed to return to a police station at a later date and other traders be subjected to an investigation by BHTSS.

Bill Bilon, head of BHTSS, said: “This was one of the biggest and most successful operations we have conducted at Wembley Market with more than 45 trading standards and police officers plus brand representative’s working together to tackle those who trade in illegal counterfeit goods.

“Brent and Harrow Trading Standard Services will not tolerate those who persistently plague the market with counterfeit goods.

“My officers will now investigate all of the stalls caught selling the fake goods and will seek to prosecute not just those who turn up at the market to sell the goods, but also the professional network of criminal perpetrators who are involved further up the supply chain.”

Sergeant Pete Goodchild from Tokyngton Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: “The value of the goods is quite amazing and it means a large amount of money has now being diverted away from criminal activity. We plan to conduct more of these operations in the near future.

“This was a great piece of partnership working with our colleagues at Brent Council.”

In addition to the eight arrests, one person was fined �80 for possession of cannabis and another received a cannabis warning.

A further two people were held on immigration offences.