Four people from Sydney, Australia have so far been charged with the illegal importation from Indonesia of two million cold tablets containing the ingredient pseudoephedrine, which can also be used to manufacture methamphetamine. Weighing in at 120 kilograms, the pills were found in 139 cartons hidden amongst a container-load of wooden furniture.

Customs officials had x-rayed the shipment at Botany Bay last Tuesday and then alerted Federal police, who followed the delivery to a business address in the inner-west suburb of Leichhardt. A 44-year-old woman from nearby Drummoyne, along with her 47-year-old partner, signed for the delivery and then gave it over to two men, aged 38 and 44, who took it to Chinatown in the city. Police swooped on the men and the delivery. All four face up to a maximum of 25 years imprisonment and/or a A$550,000 fine.

Australia, as part of a growing worldwide trend to battle the diversion of cold and flu tablets into the manufacture of methamphetamines, has a database checking system in place at pharmacies for the likes of Sudafed pills. Smuggling operations like this one from Indonesia to Sydney constitute a considerable alternative challenge for authorities.

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