The Malaysian police have busted two drug syndicates trafficking the club drug ketamine to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong through commercial courier services, authorities said in a report today.

The drugs, smuggled in from India, were hidden in computer printer cartridges or coffee sachets and then boxed and unwittingly delivered by commercial couriers, narcotics department director Mohamad Najib Abdul Aziz said.

Police arrested a Taiwanese national, a Hong Kong national, five Malaysians and a Chinese, he told the Bernama news agency.

"All of them are members of the syndicates and were caught red-handed while packing the drug," Mohamad Najib said.

RM2.2 million worth of drugs

The two syndicates had similar methods but were not known to each other, he said.

Police also seized 22 kilogrammes of the drug, worth RM2.2 million, along with cash.

Ketamine, which goes by the street name "K", is a sedative used by veterinarians that has become popular in Hong Kong and China, especially in nightclubs.

Drug-trafficking in Malaysia carries a mandatory death penalty. Malaysia has executed 229 people convicted of drug trafficking in the past 30 years.