Los Angeles: A Los Angeles man has agreed to plead guilty to smuggling nearly 41 kilograms of cocaine to Australia by concealing it in items such as water heaters, air conditioners and lamp stands.

Prosecutors announced on Friday that Vardges Markosyan of North Hollywood had agreed to enter pleas to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money.

Authorities said Markosyan's plea agreement acknowledges that from 2014 to 2016 he shipped about 41 kilograms of cocaine overseas by suspending it in grease and placing it inside household products, including log splitters and air compressors.

Markosyan also acknowledged that he and his sister conspired to launder the drug proceeds by buying properties in North Hollywood and Studio City and using them to obtain loans.

His sister Iren Markosyan pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy.

AP