Munich - Police said Thursday they had broken up a network of boutique factories in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that used highly explosive chemicals to make illegal amphetamines and ecstasy.

Some 2,800 police raided 600 premises, making eight arrests and blowing up some of the chemicals because they were too dangerous to transport. Bavarian police, who had been investigating the group for months, said they found nearly 20 drug laboratories.

In Berlin, three apartment buildings were evacuated when some of the explosive chemicals were found. Police said they were holding two chemicals merchants. One aged 37 was based near Munich and the other aged 39 was detained at Hodenhagen in northern Germany. (dpa)