Berlin - Thieves posing as customers officers robbed two Italian truckers of their money and passports on a stretch of German autobahn north-west of Berlin, police said Wednesday.

The phoney customs officials flagged down the men's truck on Tuesday in Fehrbellin and ordered them to drive to a parking lot adjacent to the motorway.

The con men, who were in an unmarked car, produced badges identifying themselves as customs officers. They checked the documents of the unsuspecting driver and his assistant and asked them how much money they had on them.

The Italians handed over "a large sum of cash" as well as their passports to the tricksters, who gave them a receipt and told them to follow them to a nearby police station.

While the truck drivers returned to their vehicle the con men jumped into their own car and sped off, police said. (dpa)