Police have seized hundreds of kilos of gold, money, cars and watches worth more than €10m stashed in a recycling depot in Venlo, the public prosecution service has announced.

Crime investigators, prosecutors and police had suspected the metal recycling company of money laundering because unsorted waste was piled high, spilling onto neighbouring plots, and the company’s administration was not in order.

Sure enough, when they swooped, they found ten firearms and ammunition, 17 watches including a Rolex and sports cars including a Maserati, Ferrari and Porsche – plus a 10 metre high mountain of unrecycled waste.

‘It wasn’t what you’d call an everyday discovery,’ prosecution spokeswoman Marieke van der Molen told public broadcaster NOS. ‘The gold was disguised and well hidden in the business premises, which is why it was only found after a few days.’

Two personnel have been arrested and three employees’ homes were also searched.