Police in Malaysia have arrested six people, including citizens of Taiwan and China, for exporting the club drug ketamine in coffee to avoid its detection by sniffer dogs, a report said Saturday.

The five men and a woman were arrested after a five-month investigation in which more than 25 kilogrammes (55 pounds) of ketamine was seized along with a large number of coffee sachets, the New Straits Times reported.

Federal police narcotics department director Mohamad Najib Abdul Aziz confirmed the successful raids but declined to comment, it said.

The coffee sachets had been opened, partially emptied and filled with small packets containing ketamine before being resealed. The overpowering aroma of coffee helps prevent dogs from sniffing out the drug, the report said.

Drugs have previously been smuggled using infant milk powder tins, toothpaste tubes and health products.

International ring

The foreigners were believed to be part of an international drug trafficking ring exporting to China and neighbouring countries where rave parties are becoming popular, the report said.

One kilogramme of ketamine costs less than RM45,000 (US$11,842) in Malaysia but can fetch four times the amount on the international market.

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