Police in Beijing have busted a factory that produced more than 41,000 fake iPhones worth millions of dollars, including some that reached the United States.

At least nine suspects have been arrested, including a married couple who led the counterfeit operation, in the raid amounting to more than $US19 million.

It was run under the guise of a gadget maintenance shop on the northern outskirts of the Chinese capital.

The details were revealed in a social media posting on Sunday by the public security bureau in Beijing.

The group, headed by a 43-year-old man, surnamed Yu, and his 40-year-old wife, surnamed Xie, both from the southern hardware manufacturing city of Shenzhen, allegedly set up the Beijing factory with six assembly lines in January, the bureau said.

They hired "hundreds" of workers to repackage second-hand smartphone components as iPhones for export, it added.

Police seized 1,400 handsets and large quantities of accessories during the May 14 raid.

Beijing police said their investigation followed a tip-off from US authorities who seized some of the fake devices.

The destination of the counterfeit phones, and how many made it there, remains unknown.

Public security representatives declined to comment on Monday, saying they had no additional information. Apple also declined to comment, saying the investigation was ongoing.

It is not the first time China has uncovered plots to exploit the popularity of Apple products.

Apple is one of the most popular brands in China and authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to dispel the country's reputation for turning out counterfeit goods.

In 2011, bloggers in the south-western city of Kunming discovered more than a dozen unauthorised brick-and-mortar outlets that carefully replicated the interior decor, and even employee uniforms, used in genuine Apple stores.

The viral pictures embarrassed officials, who vowed to do more to protect trademarks.

Reuters