Authorities in Germany seize millions of cigarettes at hidden factory

Customs officers have seized millions of cigarettes and arrested four people following the discovery of a large illegally operated factory in northern Germany, officials said on Saturday.

A complete production line was uncovered in Friday's raid on the facility in a warehouse in the small town of Kalbe in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to the Hanover Customs Investigation Office.

Due to the size of the crime scene, the investigation and removal of evidence is likely to take the whole weekend, said a spokesman.

More than 30 million untaxed cigarettes were seized, along with several tons of tobacco and raw materials such as filters and packaging.

"The tax loss for the cigarettes, which are presumed to be counterfeit, amounts to more than €8 million [$9.4 million]," the customs service said in a statement. 

Details about the people arrested were not initially disclosed.

Other authorities were assisting in the removal of the large amount of evidence and cigarettes. Officers found the illegal goods on around 80 to 90 pallets, said the spokesman.

Prior to the raid, customs officials from the city of Bielefeld had inspected a lorry on the A2 motorway in the adjacent state of Lower Saxony.

Around 12 million cigarettes were seized during the inspection on the motorway, which runs past Hanover and the Kalbe area.