Kiwi charged with importing 5kg of crystal meth

A New Zealand woman has been charged with importing five kilograms of crystal meth into Sydney hidden inside machinery parts.

Customs officers at Sydney Airport searched the 53-year-old's bags as she got off a flight from India on Saturday afternoon.

They allegedly found eight cardboard boxes containing lathe chucks.

Hidden inside the chucks was five kilograms of methamphetamine, or crystal meth - the party drug made famous on the television series Breaking Bad.

The woman was charged with importing a commercial quantity of the drug and will face court in Sydney today.

The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,275,000.

- AAP