Australia drug runner crashes meth van into police car

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Media caption,

The van smashed into the parked police car before racing off

A suspected drug carrier has been arrested after crashing a van packed with A$200m (£112m; $140m) of methamphetamine into a patrol car parked outside a police station in Sydney, Australia.

The 28-year-old driver hit the police car at speed, crushing its bonnet, on Monday before racing off.

Police caught him an hour later in Eastwood, a suburb in the city's north.

A search of the van uncovered 273kg of meth.

Image source, NSW POLICE
Image caption,

Police found moving boxes full of packaged meth inside the van

Authorities said no-one was injured in the crash, but the police car had "sustained significant damage".

Crystal meth, which is known locally as ice, has been described as the most common and damaging illegal drug in Australia.

The price of crystal meth in Australia is among the highest in the world, driving the country's organised crime gangs to trade increasingly in the drug.

The man, who has not been named, faced court on Tuesday charged with drug supply and negligent driving offences.