Australian Man Charged in Pink Cocaine Bust

Australian authorities have arrested a 21-year-old man following the seizure of 252 kg of 'pink cocaine' valued at nearly $38 million, marking the largest bust of its kind in the country. The substance, which is often a mix of drugs like ketamine and MDMA rather than actual cocaine, was intercepted in October as part of an investigation into a transnational drug syndicate. The drugs were shipped in air cargo disguised as an industrial saw and were intended for a Sydney suburb. The man has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, facing a potential life sentence. Concerns have been raised about the dangers of 'pink cocaine', which can lead to severe health risks including overdose and death. This incident follows reports linking the drug to high-profile deaths, such as that of One Direction star Liam Payne, who was found to have it in his system before his fatal fall in Argentina.