A court in Karnobat has ordered a man held in custody, the toughest restraint measure available, over an illegal cigarette factory in the town's industrial zone.

The factory came to light yesterday, when the Burgas regional police directorate (ODMVR) said the organised crime unit GDBOP, the Border Police and the State Agency for National Security (DANS) had found it in a joint raid. The man was detained during the raid.

How it began: GDBOP, Border Police and DANS find illegal cigarette factory near Karnobat

He is charged with making tobacco products for sale without a permit.

The site has high-tech equipment: two production lines and machines that process and cut tobacco. Police found about 12 tonnes of tobacco and 5 master boxes of finished cigarettes.

Police are searching for others involved in the production and for the routes the cigarettes took to buyers.

The site also has rooms where workers lived.