German authorities seized 2.9 tons of a chemical used to produce crystal meth on Thursday in an operation that brought 15 arrests in Germany and the Czech Republic, according to Reuters.

The chloroephedrine seized in the eastern German city of Leipzig last week could have been used to produce 2.3 tons of crystal meth with an estimated street value of 184 million euros, or $230 million, Reuters reported.

Seven suspected members of the drug-producing gang and a suspected customer were arrested during raids in Leipzig last week, the Toronto Sun reported. Cash, ammunition and stolen identity papers seized were also found.

Czech authorities arrested another seven people along with seizing firearms and cash, according to Reuters.

The suspected ringleader is a 32-year-old chemical and drug trader from Leipzig who had chloroephedrine produced elsewhere in Europe and delivered to Germany, according to Police, Reuters reported.

After that, the chemical was transported in quantities of 20 kilos, or 44 pounds, or less across the Czech border for use in producing crystal meth, which was then delivered back to Leipzig, according to the Sun.

Police office chief Joerg Ziercke said that chemicals for large-scale drug production were until now "almost exclusively" procured from China, and that a German having them made in Europe was "a novelty," Reuters reported.