A man who tried to smuggle 32 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient to make methamphetamine drugs, also known as ice, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars.

Minhang District prosecutors said the man surnamed Chen had tried to smuggle 12kg of pseudoephedrine to Australia and 20kg of pseudoephedrine to Laos.

Last August a local logistics company worker found suspicious white powder when he checked a package from Fujian Province that was to go to Australia. Police tests showed the powder was pseudoephedrine.

Chen was caught on September 26. He said he became involved in drug smuggling after being offered a pay-off to clear his gambling debts.