SYDNEY, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian police have charged a Malaysian national over an alleged attempt to import methamphetamine that was found concealed in luggage at Sydney Airport.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a joint statement on Friday that the 66-year-old man was sent for a baggage examination on arrival in Sydney on a flight from Thailand on Thursday.

An X-ray of the man's suitcase identified anomalies and a subsequent search located 10 bottles, which were labelled as scented powder, containing 5 kg of methamphetamine.

The Malaysian man was arrested and charged with one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The AFP and ABF said that it will be alleged in court that the man told officers he had been recruited through social media to courier the suitcase from Thailand to Australia in exchange for payment.

Two mobile phones were seized by investigators for forensic examination. ■