Malaysian pilot arrested with 70,000+ ecstasy pills while entering Indonesia
The pilot, who tested positive for meth, MDMA & cocaine, allegedly transported drugs on three prior occasions and now faces the death penalty
A Malaysian pilot faces the death penalty in Indonesia after customs officers arrested him at Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his suitcase.
The pilot flew Malaysia Airlines flight MH727 from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta on July 28; officers stopped him at Terminal 3.
According to Tempo, a search of his suitcase turned up 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing 25.19kg, plus a package of crystal methamphetamine.
CCTV footage shows him waved toward the fast-track lane for flight crew, then pulled aside for further inspection. Officers found a bottle of urine, allegedly meant to fake a drug test.
The pilot was also reported to have been under the influence while flying the plane; his test came back positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.
He allegedly received MYR50,000 (around USD12.200) to transport the drugs to Jakarta.
Investigators told Antara the pilot had allegedly run drugs on three prior occasions.
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“The suspects are still believed to be in the Jakarta area. We are working with Customs and other stakeholders to uncover the remaining network,” states Awaludin Amin, Head of Subdirectorate 2 at the National Police's narcotics unit.
Malaysia's Border Control and Protection Agency confirmed his bag cleared screening at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
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“We are waiting for the response from the police so that we can study how he passed through the screenings without being flagged,” said Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency director-general Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain at a press conference on August 2.
Malaysia Airlines says it is running an internal review and cooperating with Indonesian authorities.
The pilot faces charges under Indonesia's 2009 Narcotics Law, which imposes criminal penalties from imprisonment and fines to life sentences or death for serious offences.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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