SHAH ALAM, July 31 — A pilot who was arrested in Indonesia, suspected of attempting to smuggle 25kg of drugs, has allegedly confessed that he had previously carried out the illegal activity three times, including to Sabah and Jakarta.
Local news agency Kompas reported that Indonesian Police Narcotics Crime Directorate director Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso said the 39-year-old suspect was arrested at the entrance to Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday (July 28).
"The investigation found that the suspect, who tested positive for drugs, admitted that this was the third time he had brought drug supplies.
"The first time, the suspect smuggled drugs to Sabah and the second time he was reported to have brought 7kg of methamphetamine to Jakarta," he said.
Eko added that an inspection by the Customs and Excise Division found 15 large packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine after detecting suspicious objects through the suspect's luggage scanner.
Initial investigations found that the suspect is believed to have received a payment of about RM50,000 to smuggle the drugs from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta.
"The drug supply was sent by an individual in Malaysia before being picked up by another individual at the suspect's hotel in Jakarta," he said.
The authorities are tracking down individuals believed to be involved in a smuggling network in Malaysia and Indonesia, based on information obtained from a suspect.
Eko noted that they also did not rule out the possibility that the syndicate had an international network.
The suspect, who is currently being held at the POLRI Detention Centre, faces action under Indonesian law for the offence of carrying, importing, being an intermediary, or conspiring to traffic drugs in large quantities.
The New Straits Times reported that federal police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that the pilot was detained by the Indonesian authorities for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.
The man was arrested shortly after arriving in Jakarta from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night, and he will face action under Indonesian law.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines refused to comment on the arrest of the pilot by Indonesian authorities on suspicion of involvement in a drug-related case, but emphasised that it views such allegations seriously.
The national airline said that it would provide full cooperation to the relevant authorities in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
