A Canberra teenager is facing the possibility of life behind bars after being charged with attempting to smuggle 16 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia.

The 19-year-old was apprehended by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney Airport after arriving on a flight from Vancouver on September 29. During the search of his luggage, officers reportedly discovered three packages containing a substance that initial tests identified as methamphetamine.

Authorities allege that the young man revealed he had been contacted via social media by an individual offering him $3,500 to transport a product from Canada into Australia. He claimed he was led to believe that he was importing illegal e-cigarettes or vapes, not illicit drugs.

The man allegedly told authorities he was approached by an unknown person on social media offering him $3500 to illegally import a product from Canada.

However, he was told he would be bringing illegal e-cigarettes or vapes into the country, not illicit drugs.

The teenager allegedly travelled to Canada on September 23, collecting a suitcase he thought had the vapes inside, before returning to Australia days later.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) were called, seizing the alleged drugs and the man’s laptop.

No vapes were found in the suitcase.

Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess said the arrest was a reminder to not trust anyone offering money to help move illicit substances, even if it seems innocent.

“The money is not worth the consequences you may face. If caught, you face losing some of the best years of your life sitting in a prison cell,” he said.

The man was arrested and faced court the next day.

He was charged with one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and one count of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

Both offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at court today.