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Los Angeles man sentenced for smuggling drugs to Australia

Authorities say the drugs were worth at least $7 million.

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles man who smuggled nearly 90 pounds of cocaine to Australia inside of air conditioners, water heaters and other household appliances has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison. 

Vardges Markosyan was sentenced Friday in Los Angeles. 

Prosecutors say that from 2014 to 2016, Markosyan suspended cocaine in grease and packed it into tankless water heaters, log splitters, air compressors, lamp stands and air conditioners that he shipped to Australia for distribution. 

Authorities say the drugs were worth at least $7 million.

Markosyan pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy.

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