Powdered heroin is pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Powdered heroin is pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. U Reuters/US DEA/Handout via Reu

Nine Australians are facing execution in China after the arrest of Kalynda Davis and her partner Peter Gardner. The Sydney pair was trying to smuggle methamphetamine drug into Australia from China.

Davis is among the nine Australians currently facing the death penalty in China. The arrest was made in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. The area was under high alert as travellers were warned beforehand not to carry any illicit drugs.

Davis and Gardner were nabbed at Guangzhou International Airport last month when they were trying to fly out of China to Australia. The custom staff detected the illicit drug known as 'ice' or 'crystal' in their luggage, and the pair were immediately detained.

It was later revealed that the couple, hailing from Western Sydney suburb, was trying to smuggle about 75 kg of the drug. As told to News Corp Australia, they are now facing severe punishment in the form of rigorous life imprisonment and may even be meted out the death penalty.

A lawyer from China confirmed that such a high amount of trafficked drug will definitely lead them to gallows. For the past few months, the Chinese government has been running a major anti-drug campaign across the country titled 'Operation Thunder'. Methamphetamine has been emerging as the region's popular drug, in which the distribution has already started expanding its reach to Australia along with 'ecstasy' and cocaine.

The southern Chinese province, where the arrest has happened, is a notorious hub for illicit drug production and transportation. The Australian Federal Police is constantly in touch with their Chinese counterparts in an attempt to curb down the trafficking of these lethal drugs to Australia.

China has a well-known tough standard when it comes to drug trafficking and supply. In the past, several foreigners have been executed for drug offences. Two Ugandans were executed in July this year while a number of Africans are included in the death row. In 2010, four Japanese people were shot after being found guilty of similar charges.

It is still unclear whether the detained Australian pair have been charged or not. However, the Chinese process and legal system are quite lengthy and complicated with a conviction rate as high as 99 per cent. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is offering its consular assistance services to Davis, Gardner and seven other Australians who are currently thriving in the harsh condition of Chinese detention centre.

The Saturday Telegraph revealed that Davis is the daughter of a senior constable who is a gifted basketball player and attended private schools in Western Sydney. Her recent stunt is highly unlike her normal self, as told by her friends. She was also reported missing earlier by a family member who tracked her down in China.