KUALA LUMPUR: Four men, including three Singaporeans, are facing the death penalty after being charged with trafficking nearly 10 litres of liquid cocaine last week.

Kong Sien Mee, 57; Quek Kien Seng, 45; Tristan Chew Jin Zhong, 25; and Ivan Tan Zhi Xu, 31, nodded to indicate they understood the charges, which were jointly read before magistrate Amalina Basirah Md Top today.

However, no plea was recorded, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

They were accused of trafficking 9,420.2ml of cocaine near a hotel here at about 11.45am on June 19.

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They were charged under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, punishable under Section 39B(2) of the same Act.

If convicted, they face the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the rotan.

Deputy public prosecutor M. Ramanathan Alias Ashwin prosecuted, while lawyer Ille Maryam Yusnawannie appeared for the three Singaporeans — Quek, Chew, and Tan.

Kong was unrepresented.

The court fixed Sept 8 for mention.

On June 23, federal police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) acting director Datuk Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali said police had crippled the country's first known cocaine vape distribution syndicate following the arrest of four men, based on intelligence received about their activities.