Ice tea smuggler charged in NSW

Three men who allegedly stashed a large amount of a key ingredient of the drug ice in a shipment of tea have been charged by NSW police.

Detectives in January began investigating a suspected crime syndicate operating in Sydney's southwest and on Friday afternoon raided three properties and a storage shed at Liverpool.

"Detectives located 1.3 tonnes of tea product that had allegedly been laced with pseudoephedrine," police said.

The tea has been taken for further analysis and charges were laid against the men.

A 31-year-old from Melbourne and two men from Liverpool, 31 and 37, have been charged with possessing a prohibited drug and supplying prohibited drug.

They were refused bail and were due before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.