Fishy statue disguised $10m drug haul

A Nigerian man could be jailed for life for allegedly smuggling $10 million worth of ice into Australia inside a gaudy fish statue.

Sydney border force officers found 10kg of the highly addictive drug hidden inside one of three ugly gold-coloured fish statues destined for a Canberra address.

Police were alerted and arrested the 32-year-old after he picked up the statues, removed the drugs, and tried to board a bus bound for Sydney on Saturday.

The drug stash, which had been imported from China, was found on the man when he was arrested, police say.

The man, who arrived in Australia in July on a student visa, faces a maximum penalty of life in jail if he's convicted of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an illegal drug.

He's due to face the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.