Prague  - Two British men suspected of involvement in embezzling 1.9 million pounds (3.7 million dollars) in Britain have been detained in Prague, police disclosed Thursday, nearly two months after the fact.

The men, both aged 51, allegedly belong to a group of ten persons, consisting of one Czech and the rest mainly British nationals, being investigated in Britain for suspected fraud.

Police said that the suspects had allegedly solicited funds from private investors between 2003 and 2004 supposedly for real estate purchases, but instead kept the money. Most of the money was stashed away in Czech bank accounts.

The men had lived in Prague and run a real estate business there for at least two years, police said.

The Czech and British police detained the two on a European warrant in a surprise sweep on June 12. Two further suspects were detained in Britain and one in Australia, Prague police divulged in a statement after local media had gotten wind of the story.

"They did not expect it at all. One of them was at home in bed," police spokesman Roman Skrepek said.

Police have also frozen men's property worth at least 25 million koruny (1.6 million dollars), including a 23-million-koruny residence in Prague's high-end neighborhood, bank accounts and a limousine.

One suspect was handed over to British authorities on July 31, while the second appealed extradition to Britain and remains in Czech custody. (dpa)