DFAT has confirmed a number of Australians are facing drugs charges in China, amid reports a young Queensland man has been sentenced to death for trying to smuggle methamphetamine out of the country.
The ABC reports Bengali Sherrif, from Queensland, has been sentenced to death for attempting to traffic the drug from China to Australia, after being arrested at Guangzhou airport in June 2014.
Sherrif's sentence will be commuted to life in prison if his behaviour in prison is good for two years, it adds.
Another Australian, Ibrahim Jalloh, was also reportedly caught at the same airport in June last year and is said to be awaiting trial.
DFAT confirmed to AAP a number of Australians are facing "narcotics-related charges in China" but would not provide details, citing privacy considerations.
DFAT said penalties in China for all types of drug-related offences were severe and included life imprisonment or the death penalty.
"Such laws are strictly enforced," the department added.
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