Wellington, Sep 27 (IANS): New Zealand's customs officers Friday said they have seized methamphetamine worth New Zeland $145,000 ($120,192) being smuggled into the country in women's platform shoes from China.

Customs officers at the Air Cargo Inspections Facility in Auckland became suspicious while viewing X-ray images of two pairs of shoes sent from China, Xinhua reported.

On examination, they found four packages hidden inside the hollowed-out heels containing a total of 145 gm of a crystalline substance that tests confirmed was methamphetamine.

"The shoes were not high fashion, but they were supposedly destined for sale, and are now proving very expensive for the importer," Mark Day, customs manager for investigations, said in a statement.

"Customs is pleased to have stopped this package and we will continue to target imports to disrupt the drug supply chain," Day said.

Those caught attempting to import controlled drugs such as methamphetamine face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in New Zealand.