California drug trafficking ring hid cocaine in car parts and instant noodles

Four men face a life sentence after packaging up to $160m worth of illegal substances to export to Australia and New Zealand

Four California men were charged on Thursday after the conclusion of a multi-agency investigation that uncovered how a transnational drug trafficking organization hid up to $160m worth of drugs in everything from car parts to instant noodles for export to Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Roughly 755kgs (1,664lbs) of methamphetamine and more than 100kgs of cocaine were discovered tucked within emergency kits, instant noodle packets, car parts and subwoofers, according to the US Department of Justice, which released details about the arrests on Friday.