Five Chinese students have been jailed for their roles in a syndicate that used the postal system to import thousands of dollars worth of ice into Australia.
Most of the men, aged between 23 and 25, were living in Australia illegally after entering the country on student visas in 2007 and 2008 to study English before leaving school to do cash-in-hand work.
It was unclear how much methamphetamine had been trafficked but syndicate transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to China.
Liming Huang, 25, transferred $95,000 to accounts in China during May 2012 and March 2013, and was said by Victorian County Court Judge Mark Dean to have played a significant and trusted role in the drug operation.
Police intercepted 1.825g of pure methylamphetamine during the course of his offending.
Ning Li, 25, who also played a senior role, transferred $146,940 to China.
Min Yu, 25, distributed meth and transferred money to China on 45 occasions.
Police found 79 packages containing a total of 122g of methylamphetamine in his Maribyrnong bedroom before arrest in 2013.
Wanghao Hong, 23, was found with 88g and also transferred money to overseas bank accounts.
Junge Wu, 23, was the only member of the group not in breach of his student visa. He finished his diploma of international business at RMIT while on bail for conspiracy to important a commercial quality of a controlled substance.
Police intercepted almost 1kg of pure meth during the course of Wu's offending.
Judge Dean on Friday said trafficking in a controlled substance was of the utmost seriousness.
"Methamphetamine is causing incalculable damage to our society," Judge Dean said.
Huang was jailed for nine years with a non-parole period of seven years.
Li was jailed for five years and must serve at least three.
Yu was jailed for seven years with a minimum of five.
Hong was jailed for four years and nine months with a minimum of two years and nine months.
Wu was jailed for six years but will be eligible for parole after serving three years and nine months.
The men will all be deported when they are released.
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