BEIJING -- Chinese police have arrested a group of nine drug trafficking suspects, seizing 774 kilograms of ephedrine, the nation's Narcotics Control Bureau said on Tuesday.

The police also captured 2.1 tons of ephedra herb, according to the bureau under the Ministry of Public Security.

Ephedrine is extracted from the ephedra herb, which is a major material for producing the methamphetamine, or "ice."

The suspects were arrested in Hubei, Fujian and Shandong provinces. Another two are still on the run, the bureau said.