NZ-born man arrested in Australia's largest meth bust

A New Zealand-born man has been arrested in Australia's largest methamphetamine bust in history, involving 585kg of the drug worth about A$483 million ($597m).

Police revealed this morning that the 21-year-old had been arrested in New South Wales with a 32-year-old man from Singapore and 51-year-old man from Hong Kong.

The New Zealand-born man is an Australian national who lives in Canley Vale in Sydney, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.

The AFP said it was the largest seizure of the drug P in Australia's history.

AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said the investigation was sparked by a tip-off from a member of the public in September last year.

He said the investigation led to a "suspicious facility" at West Ryde in Sydney, where the arrivals of "suspicious containers" were monitored over several months, the ABC reports.

The drugs were found in a chemical shipment from Shenjing in southern China on February 22, and the men were arrested yesterday while allegedly trying to collect the drugs.

"The investigation remains ongoing and we've not ruled out further arrests either here in Australia or overseas,'' Mr Negus told a media conference this morning.

"We've already been in contact with authorities in China and a range of further inquiries are under way."

Federal Police say the massive drugs haul is the largest single seizure of P in Australia, with the previous record of 300kg in July last year.

"When the police and the community work together, these are the sort of results you get," NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.

"We're very fortunate that somebody took the time to make that phone call.

"Make no mistake. This is a hideous, insidious drug.

"This is the sort of drug that sends people mad."

The three men are due to appear in Sydney Local Court today.