Fishy discovery leads to drug bust

Fishy discovery leads to drug bust

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian customs officers thought something was fishy when they inspected a man's luggage and found jars of pickled fish.

Closer inspection found 39 condoms of heroin inside the fish.

Officers at Adelaide airport in South Australia "became suspicious about pickled fish fillets inside jars found in the passenger's luggage" Wednesday, a Customs statement said.

"Closer inspection revealed a number of condoms sewn inside the fish pieces," said the statement Thursday.

A 32-year-old Australian man returning from Cambodia was arrested and will be charged with importing more than two kg (4.4 pounds) of heroin, Customs said.

The charge of importing a commercial quantity of drugs carries a penalty of life imprisonment and/or a fine of up to A$825,000 (US$620,000).