BANGKOK - Two Malaysians could face the death penalty in Thailand after being arrested with large amount of heroin, Thai police said Saturday.

Kee Sim Heng, 41, and Chng Teik Hin, 38, were arrested at a Bangkok bus terminal late Friday with 12 kg of pure heroin in their belongings, police said.

"The maximum penalty that they are facing is death as they were charged with illegal possession and trafficking of drugs," said Major Viroj Peangkreang of the Thai police.

Confession

Police said the two suspects confessed they bought the drugs from an unidentified Thai man in northeast Thailand.

They said the drugs were from Laos and worth US$105,000 and planned to take overland to Malaysia, according to police.

More than 320 prisoners have been executed in Thailand in the last 70 years, originally by firing squad but by lethal injection for the last year.

Thailand has just embarked on its second round of its war on drugs, after a crackdown last year left more than 2,000 people dead and sparked international criticisms.

However, the new round has been overshadowed by wars on corruption and bird flu launched by Premier Thaksin Shinawatra in the last week. - AFP