Half tonne of drugs from China seized

Almost half a tonne of the drug ice and its precursors smuggled into Australia in bar stools and soup packets has been seized by federal police, resulting in four arrests.

More than $167 million worth of methamphetamine and enough ephedrine to make 250kg of ice was found by drug authorities at addresses in the Sydney suburbs of Kingsgrove and Peakhurst after being imported on shipping containers from China.

AFP NSW State Manager Chris Sheehan said the four accused smugglers, including at least two Chinese nationals, were "integral members" of an international drug syndicate.

"These were not mere low-level players," Mr Sheehan said on Friday.

"We're going to allege the people we arrested here in Sydney were significant and integral members of the syndicate."

Three of the four accused - a 57-year-old Australian female and two Chinese men, aged 45 and 50 - are alleged to have controlled the operation and sought to extract the drugs from the stools and packets.

They have been charged with conspiracy to import and possess commercial quantities of drugs.

The fourth man, a 26-year-old arrested in Narwee on Thursday night, allegedly attempted to possess an amount of the methamphetamine.

All four will face court later on Friday and could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Police will allege the drugs and precursors were smuggled into Sydney on three shipping containers from China's Ningbo Port.

The containers were inspected in the first week of January by the Australian Border Force and, after the concealed drugs were located, tracked to their residential destination.

China is a common source of methamphetamine imports to Australia.

"China is in relatively close proximity to Australia and hence our focus on establishing Taskforce Blaze with the Chinese authorities," Mr Sheehan said.

Taskforce Blaze is a bilateral program between the AFP and Chinese law enforcement to investigate the ice trade.

The NSW Crime Commission was reported on Friday as saying illicit narcotics remained in plentiful supply, despite over seven tonnes of border drug seizures in 2014-15.

Mr Sheehan denied law enforcement were losing the battle against drug importation.

"As a result of this seizure, regardless of any other factor, there are Australians who will not die from drug overdoses, there are Australians whose homes will not be burgled," he said.

"Just because it's difficult, it doesn't mean you don't pursue it."

ABF NSW regional commander Tim Fitzgerald said authorities were making 40 drug seizures a day on Australia's borders, on average.