Police are investigating how a man allegedly smuggled more than five kilograms of illegal drugs through Sydney Airport and onto a flight bound for Hobart.

The scent of drugs on the 32-year-old was picked up by sniffer dogs at Hobart Airport on Monday night.

A subsequent search allegedly uncovered $2000 in cash in his hand luggage, 3.5kg of methamphetamine and 2kg of cocaine in his checked baggage.

It is estimated the drugs have a combined street value of $5.5 million.

The man, from Claremont, north of Hobart, was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and briefly appeared in Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Australian Federal Police Sergeant Nick Gibson indicated the man was picked up through the regular screening process.

He said the question of how the drugs got through Sydney Airport would form part of investigations.

“This was certainly not a person we’ve been tracking,” he told reporters.

“Investigators will obviously look at all the circumstances surrounding his arrest. We’ll go from there.”

-AAP