Wang Chei Wei, 41, his mother, Ah Yee Hwa, 62, their friend Chan Siew Han, 60, as well as Tay Khai Seng, 34, and his wife Yup Zu Jin, 28, nodded when the charges were read to them before magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsuddin.

However, no pleas were recorded as the case would be transferred to the High Court.

According to the charges, the five were accused of jointly trafficking 16.4kg of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 7.7kg of cannabis in a house in Taman Larkin Idaman, at about 5.30am on Jan 10.

The five risk the death penalty if convicted under Section 39B (1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In the same court, Wang pleaded guilty to three more charges of possessing methamphetamine weighing 1.77g, nimetazepam (0.59g) and cannabis (4.93g).

The offences were alleged to have been committed at the same location and date, under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and can be punished under Section 12 (3) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or a maximum prison term of five years or both if convicted.

The court set mention for all the cases on April 23 pending chemical reports.

Lawyers Jihad Syahida Nadia Zakaria and Nurhazneena Zureen Jaesleen Hanafiah represented the married couple, while the other three were unrepresented.