A British mother is facing the death penalty in Malaysia after a £16,000 drugs stash was allegedly uncovered at the hotel she runs.
The drugs haul was found at the beach resort complex run by the couple
Shivaun Orton, 41, could be sentenced to death by hanging if found guilty of drugs trafficking.
She and her Malaysian husband Abdul Harris Fadilah, 46, were arrested at their home on the border of Pahang and Terengganu states after 225g of heroin, cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy was seized at the Ranting beach resort in Cherating.
Possession or dealing of cannabis, amphetamine and ecstasy carries a sentence of life imprisonment in Malaysia.
Possession of more than 15g of heroin carries the death penalty.
Police in Malaysia say the couple were heroin addicts.
"They are being investigated for possession and trafficking of drugs, they have a huge quantity of drugs worth more than 75,000 ringgit (£15,300)," said state anti-narcotics chief Roslan Abdul Wahid.
"The couple themselves are drug addicts and initial investigations showed they consumed drugs worth more than 10,000 ringgit (£2,000) every month," he said.
Police are investigating whether they sold drugs to tourists who stayed at their beach resort.
Officers have also detained the couple's adopted 18-year-old daughter and seized five cars including a Mercedes Benz as part of their investigation.
The couple, who have been married for 20 years, also have two sons aged 14 and 16.
Orton comes from Bangor in North Wales and is reported to be the daughter of British nuclear scientist Mike Orton, who worked at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston.
A spokesman from the Foreign Office in London said he was aware a British national had been arrested in Malaysia on December 13.
He said: "We are in close contact with the authorities. We are providing consular assistance."
The spokesman said he believed charges were yet to be laid.
He added the British Government was "completely opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and we will continue to work on its abolition worldwide".
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