Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police have detained 13 people believed to be part of an international drug syndicate, a news report said Wednesday.

A Singaporean and Filipina woman, a Pakistani national, seven African men and three locals were all detained Monday at several locations including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, said Zul Hasnan Najib Baharuddin, director of the Federal Narcotics Department.

The Singaporean national was about to board a flight to Hainan, China, when airport police discovered heroin concealed in her bag, he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

The Singaporean and the Filipina woman - who was heading for Karachi, Pakistan - were suspected of being used as couriers by a drug ring.

Zul Hasnan said the arrest of the two women led to several other raids in the city, resulting in the detention of the other suspects.

"The syndicates have lately used Singaporeans and Filipinos, especially women, to smuggle drugs to countries in the region after we successfully rescued several Malaysians from being used as couriers," said Zul Hasnan.

He said police also confiscated a car, more than 2,000 ringgit (606 US dollars), 200 US dollars, money in other currencies as well as two laptop computers.

The suspects have been detained for questioning and will be charged with drug trafficking. If found guilty, they will face the mandatory death sentence by hanging. (dpa)