Cambodian police said on Friday that they have arrested three Malaysian men and seized a total of 12.4 kilograms of crystal amphetamines as they tried to smuggle the drugs out of the country.

"Three Malaysian men were arrested on Thursday as they tried to smuggle the crystal amphetamines known as 'ice' to Kuala Lumpur," Phnom Penh International Airport's police chief Chhuor Kimny told AFP.

He said the three men were detained as they were about to board a flight from the airport to Kuala Lumpur with the drugs.

After X-raying their bags, customs officials found and confiscated the drugs from Ching Sie Luen, 29, Tie Sing Hui, 31, and Hii Lu Ung, 37, he said.

The police chief said the drugs were contained in plastic-wrapped tea packages, Chhuor Kimny said.

Popular trafficking point

The police chief said the men were sent to the Ministry of Interior's anti-drug police unit to prepare documents to bring them to the court.

Ice can be produced in rudimentary laboratories from a range of chemicals and resembles clear, chunky crystals that can be smoked, snorted or injected.

In recent months, a number of Taiwanese have been arrested at the airport for trying to smuggle heroin out of the kingdom.

Impoverished Cambodia is becoming an increasingly popular trafficking point for methamphetamines and heroin, particularly since neighbouring Thailand toughened its stance on illegal drugs in 2002.