A teenager from the United States has been charged after allegedly trying to smuggle more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia in suitcases.
The 18-year-old landed at Sydney Airport this week on Wednesday when he was stopped by Border Force officers.
His two suitcases were searched and more than 20 tightly packed packages were allegedly found.
Border Force said initial tests came back with a presumptive positive for methamphetamine and 26kg of the drug was seized.
The amount of methamphetamine has the potential for approximately 260,000 individual street deals worth more than $24 million, according to federal police.
The man was arrested and charged with importing a border controlled drug.
“Our ABF officers at the airport are highly trained to monitor the behavior of passengers, relying not only on intelligence but on instinct to identify potential threats,” Australian Border Force East Travel Commander Rose Cracknell said.
“This is a significant detection of methamphetamine that will stop potential harm to tens of thousands of families.”
The US citizen appeared at Downing Center Local Court in Sydney the next day, where he was refused bail.
He will remain behind bars until he appears in court again on July 24.
