A Malaysian has been sentenced to death by hanging after smuggling more than US$40,000 worth of the stimulant "syabu" into the country, court documents said.

The High Court sentenced Mohammad bin Usin, 28, to death on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to transporting to Brunei 74.53 grams (2.61 ounces) of the methamphetamine from Miri, a border town in Sarawak.

Judges ruled it was "inconceivable that the defendant did not have any suspicion as to what the package might contain."

Their judgement said he received the package from two men whom he met at the Miri bus terminal and agreed to deliver it across the border after being paid RM50 (US$13.70.

The offence took place last year.