Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian narcotics police have detained four suspects - three local men and a Thai woman - believed to be part of an international drug syndicate operating in Kuala Lumpur, official news reports said Wednesday.

Police launched a raid at a house in the Cheras district in the capital city on Saturday, and seized 17.5 kilograms of the drug ketamine worth 300,000 ringgit (91,000 dollars), said police chief Ahmad Amir Hashim.

The drugs were believed to have been brought in from India, and stored in the house for local distribution, he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

"Police initially found 500 grams of ketamine in a plastic wrap under the staircase of the house but a suspect later led police to a room upstairs where 17 kilograms of ketamine were found," he said.

He said the suspects, aged between 27 and 39, have been remanded for investigation and are liable to be charged for trafficking.

If found guilty, they face the mandatory death sentence under Malaysia's tough drug laws. (dpa)