Illegal cigarette factory uncovered in Manchester with ELEVEN tonnes of tobacco, chemical cutting agents, fake duty free packaging and thousands in cash

Factory uncovered during raid on a warehouse in Bury, Greater Manchester
Tobacco worth £5million in unpaid VAT and duty discovered
Scales, chemical drums and fake packaging also found
Four men arrested on suspicion of evading duty

A stash of raw tobacco worth £5million which could be mixed with potentially harmful chemicals has been uncovered at an illegal cigarette factory

Investigators swooped on an industrial unit in Bury, Greater Manchester and discovered the warehouse packed with weighing scales, chemical drums and fake packaging, all equipment needed to make fake cigarettes.

The tobacco, valued at £5million in unpaid VAT and duty, was found alongside £15,000 in cash, which is now being processed under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Some of the three tonnes of tobacco, which would be enough to make three million cigarettes

An illegal tobacco factory was raided by HM Revenue and Customs in Bury, Greater Manchester

Chemical drums and weighing scales were also found when investigators raided the premises

Dry, harvested tobacco leaves believed to be imported from tobacco growing country and then processed using glycerine, white spirits vinegar and flavoured with vanilla