Drug haul in digger

THREE men have been charged over an alleged plot to smuggle 295kg of methamphetamine into Australia.

Australian Border Force officials intercepted the excavator in Sydney, which had arrived from Hong Kong, in late July, and allegedly found a crystal-like substance inside.

It was later determined to be methamphetamine, more commonly known as “ice”.

The haul had an estimated street value of $184m and could have been sold to 2.9 million people, police said.

The trio faced Central Local Court on Wednesday and will return to court on November 3 and December 15. All face a maximum penalty of life.