Two men from Malaysia and Hong Kong have been charged with smuggling more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine worth USD 50 million into Sydney in a shipping container from China, authorities said today.
The men, whose names have not been released, were to appear in a Sydney court today on various drug charges, Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service said in a joint statement. They face potential life prison sentences if convicted.
Customs officers used X-ray equipment to examine a container declared to hold "kids toys" on the Sydney waterfront on Feb 8, the statement said.
They found the meth in the container concealed under a false floor.
Police delivered the container yesterday to an address in the southwest Sydney suburb of Prestons. A 30-year-old Hong Kong man and a 37-year-old Malaysian national were later arrested in a nearby car park, the statement said.
Police have not ruled out further arrests.
