Malaysia, KUANTAN: Police were forced to fire at a car when the driver almost ran over a state Narcotics Department raiding party before arresting three drug trafficking syndicate members.

The driver dangerously reversed the car in an attempt to escape the midnight ambush and police had to fire several shots at the tyres before detaining the suspects, who included a live-in couple.

The drama unfolded at the rest area in Genting Sempah, Bentong, on Tuesday when the three suspects, upon realising they were being surrounded, tried to escape.

State narcotics investigation department chief Supt Yap Toon Khuan said the suspects were overpowered by the raiding team led by Deputy Supt S. Xavier when they tried to flee.

'We found a plastic bag containing five packets of dried leaves, believed to be cannabis, in the vehicle.

'The drugs, weighing about 5kg, are worth RM50,000 (S$21,065) on the black market.

'All the three suspects face a charge of drug trafficking which carries the mandatory death penalty,' he told a press conference here yesterday.

Supt Yap said initial investigations showed the couple, aged 28 and 37, were vegetable traders while the other suspect, aged 37, operates a food stall.

He said all three suspects, from Gombak and Setapak, tested positive for drugs.

'We believe they were on their way to Kuantan to distribute the drugs.

'The suspects have no previous convictions and were trying to make inroads into the Pahang market,' he said.