Three men from Mexico appeared in federal court in Topeka Thursday on charges of smuggling liquid methamphetamine into Kansas City, Kan., in the gas tank of a semi-trailer truck.

U.S. Attorney for Tom Beall said the defendants are alleged to have smuggled more than 1,000 pounds of liquid methamphetamine.

Heraclio Estrella-Montero, 30, Yoan Alejandro Castillo-Zamora, 30, and Fernando Chavez-Rodriquez, 40, all of Mexico, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court papers, the men were arrested in Kansas City, Kan., about 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, after pumping the liquid methamphetamine from the truck into five-gallon buckets.

If convicted they face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.

Investigators include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas City DEA Special Response Team, and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting.