The men arrived from Bangkok by plane on Tuesday, and during baggage screening, “suspicious images” were detected by the scanning machine, the Border Control and Protection Agency said in a statement.

“During a physical inspection of one of the six suitcases and several backpacks, officers found a substance believed to be cocaine hidden by covering the packages with anchovies and dried shrimp and vacuum packed to evade detection,” the statement said.

A complete inspection confirmed that a total of 12kg of the drug had been hidden in all six suitcases in a similar manner. The street value of the drugs is estimated at 2.4 million ringgit (US$580,000), according to the agency.

The agency said the suspects are being investigated for drug trafficking, an offence punishable by death or life imprisonment and a caning of no less than 15 strokes.