Madeleine McCann cops are searching an allotment in Germany near the former home of prime suspect Christian Brueckner.
Local reports claim a “large scale” operation is currently underway in Hanover as officers try to find clues linked to the disappearance of the three-year-old.
The youngster, who vanished from Portugal in 2007, is feared to have been taken by 45-year-old German national and convicted rapist Brueckner.
Police in Germany have also been searching the Linden branch channel, the Mirror and Haz.de reports.
Images published by the paper show police outside the scene although they have not given details on what they expect to find there.
It is understood to be a joint operation between the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office and the Federal Criminal Police Office.
A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said: "I do not comment on the background and aim of this measure."
A number of vehicles were at the scene and a sniffer dog has also been used to examine the grounds, reports the Star.
Brueckner, who is currently in prison, was last month publicly identified as the new chief suspect in the case, but prosecutors have admitted they do not have enough evidence to charge him in the McCann case.
Prosecutors claim he was close to the Ocean Club complex in Praia da Luz, Portugal, about an hour before Madeleine is suspected to have been snatched by an intruder, and German criminologist and profiler Mark T Hofman claims there is "no doubt" the paedophile was at the scene.
Mr Hofman told the Sun: "Mobile phone data proves he was by the apartments. Also, his record fits the profile.
"I'm sure the prosecutor will pull an ace from up his sleeve and have more than we know so far."
Madeleine vanished on the night of May 3, 2007 just days before her fourth birthday, while on holiday with her family, from Rothley, Leicestershire.
