Ice ... The woman was reportedly caught with 1.5kg of methylamphetamine, like the stash pictured here from a separate Queensland Police operation earlier this year. Source: Supplied

The 51-year-old mum of four is expected to face court today.

MORE: Aussie mum caught with ice in Malaysia

The woman was last week arrested in Kuala Lumpur in transit from Shanghai to Melbourne allegedly carrying 1.5kg of crystal methamphetamine.

Malaysian customs chief Chik Omar Chik Lim confirmed on Saturday an Australian woman had been arrested in possession of the reported amount of “ice”, but declined to give other details.

He said she was arrested on December 7.

Anyone with at least 50 grams of the drug is considered a trafficker in Muslim-majority Malaysia, which imposes a mandatory sentence of death by hanging upon conviction.

The woman is likely is expected to appear in court today as authorities seek to extend the initial seven-day period of remand for criminal suspects. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is understood to be providing the woman with consular assistance.

Hundreds of people are on death row in Malaysia, many for drug-related offences, though few have been executed in recent years.

Two Australians were hanged in 1986 for heroin trafficking — the first Westerners to be executed in Malaysia — in a case that strained bilateral relations.

Last year, Dominic Bird, a truck driver from Perth, was acquitted on drug trafficking charges after he was allegedly caught with 167 grams of crystal meth.

His lawyers argued that a government chemist had make a mistake when analysing the substance found on Bird. He was freed and allowed to return home.