Six workers found trapped in illegal underground tobacco factory in Spain
Six trapped workers were discovered deep underground and rescued by Spanish police, after a raid on an illegal tobacco farm near the southern city of Malaga.
The secret operation, complete with machinery that could produce up to 3,500 cigarettes an hour, was hidden in a maze of tunnels accessible only through a trapdoor covered with hay in a stable block.
But after the suspected ringleaders were earlier arrested, oxygen began to run out for the group of Ukrainian and Lithuanian workers.
Gasping for air, they shouted and banged on the soundproofed trapdoor to get the attention of the police investigating above their heads.
The multi-taskforce sting operation dubbed "Hannibal" is believed to be the first subterranean illegal tobacco plant discovered in Europe.
Confiscated items included 153,000 packs of cigarettes and more than 17 tonnes of tobacco, as well as 144kg of marijuana.
Europol Analysis Team Leader Harold Pew was pleased with the outcome of the raid.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPOL ANALYSIS TEAM LEADER, HAROLD PEW, SAYING:
"This is a very, very professional organised crime group that's been taking in, you can see that the factory is hidden underground and that would never have been found without international cooperation.
Twelve Britons suspected of leading the operation were arrested and are being held in custody.
The six workers were freed pending the outcome of the investigation.
