A Malaysia Airlines pilot arrested in Indonesia after being found with about 25 kilogrammes of drugs is believed to have made several previous drug deliveries to different countries since 2024.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the information emerged during questioning conducted by Malaysian narcotics investigators in Jakarta.
According to Hussein, the 39-year-old Malaysian allegedly began transporting drugs out of Malaysia in 2024, using his flight schedules to reach various international destinations.
“This was not his first time. He had allegedly carried drugs to several countries on multiple occasions,” he said when contacted.
The pilot has also reportedly provided information on several drug trafficking syndicates operating in Malaysia and abroad, including Indonesia. Malaysian police are now expected to investigate the individuals and networks identified, including financial flows linked to the alleged drug trade.
The information gathered will also be shared with drug enforcement authorities in the countries believed to be connected to the international trafficking network.
Hussein said questioning had so far found no indication of an insider being involved at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) when the pilot passed through security checks.
He said the pilot appeared to have acted alone while clearing the screening process, although investigators would examine how the drugs were able to pass through undetected. The specific method allegedly used has not been disclosed to avoid compromising the investigation.
The pilot remains in the custody of Indonesian authorities and must undergo the country’s legal process. Hussein also declined to comment on the possibility of the suspect being extradited to Malaysia, saying the matter would involve discussions between both countries.
Investigators are still working to determine the number of alleged drug deliveries made since 2024, the countries involved and the amount of payment the pilot may have received.
Malaysian narcotics officers recently travelled to Jakarta to question the suspect after obtaining permission from the Indonesian authorities. The session, initially scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, was extended to Friday, with Hussein describing the cooperation from the Indonesian police as very good.
The pilot was arrested at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on July 29 after arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines flight MH727.
Indonesian customs officers reportedly became suspicious of his luggage following an X-ray scan at around 11.30pm local time. A subsequent inspection allegedly uncovered 14 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing about 25 kilogrammes, along with four grammes of methamphetamine in his hand luggage.
The drugs were estimated by Indonesian authorities to be worth about RM45 million. Indonesian police also alleged that the pilot had been promised RM50,000 to transport the drugs to Jakarta, where another individual was expected to collect them from a hotel.
The case has since drawn attention to the challenges faced by authorities in detecting international drug trafficking operations, particularly those involving individuals with legitimate access to international travel.
