Police in Malawi are searching for nine suspects who escaped from custody after being caught allegedly smuggling charcoal in a hearse disguised as part of a funeral procession.

Acting on a tip-off, forestry officials intercepted the vehicle at a roadblock near the main city of Blantyre. Inside, they found an empty coffin placed over several bags of charcoal, with an estimated value of $1,700 (£1,200), the Reuters news agency reported. 

But a manager from the funeral service told the BBC that the hearse driver was returning from seeing a bereaved family when he bought the bags of fuel that were later confiscated.

The smuggling of charcoal, in high demand for cooking, is widespread in Malawi.

William Mitembe, a forestry official, told local media that the weekend's operation was the "most complex illegal charcoal trafficking case in the country's history".

About 30 bags of charcoal concealed underneath an empty coffin were seized during a routine roadblock in Chikwawa district, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Blantyre, another forestry official, Hector Nkawihe, told Reuters. 

But in an interview with the BBC, the company manager of the affected funeral service had a different version of events.

Patrick Dimba said that a hearse driver had been sent to a family with two coffins in order for them to select one.

It was on his way back with the remaining empty coffin that the driver bought 11 bags of charcoal.

According to Dimba, there were no other passengers in the hearse when it was stopped at the checkpoint.

However, a police spokesman told Reuters that nine suspects remain at large and have not yet been charged.

Nkawihe said the suspects were briefly detained, but later escaped custody leaving behind the impounded hearse. 

"They face two charges of illegal possession of forestry products and transportation of the same," he added. 

If guilty, the suspects could face up to five years in prison or a fine. 

The illegal charcoal trade is rampant in Malawi and a major driver of deforestation. Most Malawians rely on it for cooking due to frequent electricity blackouts.

Last month, Malawi's energy regulator hiked petrol and diesel prices by more than 40%, marking the second time fuel costs gone up in four months.

President Peter Mutharika, who returned to power last year, has been trying to revive Malawi's ailing economy.