Malaysian marine police seized 69 kilos (more than 150 pounds) of marijuana off the northern resort island of Langkawi, a senior police official said today.

"The marijuana, packed in slabs, were discovered by marine police floating in the high seas and some on nearby islands off Langkawi on Monday," Zainul Abidin Hassan, northern district marine chief, told AFP.

Marine police were continuing to search the area for marijuana believed to have been dumped overboard, he said.

From golden triangle

"We believe the marijuana is from neighbouring countries in the golden triangle for consumption in Malaysia's northern states," he said.

He said the drugs were found during a three-day police anti-smuggling crackdown off Langkawi, which has duty-free status.

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