Police seized about $300,000 worth of fake handbags, jewellery as well as phone and tablet cases in simultaneous raids of six shops at a mall along Scotts Road on Thursday.

They also arrested 11 suspects.

The 12-hour operation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recovered 8,700 pieces of copyright infringing goods, which bear the trade marks of well-known cartoon characters and luxury brands. Police said the arrests of the nine men and two women were the result of extensive probes over the past few months into syndicates' illicit activities in the unnamed mall.

"Police will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against these pirates who profit at the expense of legitimate business and consumers," said Superintendent of Police Teo Cheow Beng, who heads the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the CID.

If found guilty of selling or distributing infringing goods with falsely applied trademarks, the suspects can each be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to five years, or both. Investigations are ongoing.