A private jet linked to an alleged attempt to smuggle 521kg of methamphetamine into the Philippines is believed to have departed from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang without any drugs on board before collecting the shipment in Laos.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the aircraft, based on information from Laotian authorities, departed Subang for Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos on Oct 1.
He said only three people were on board — a Singaporean pilot, a Malaysian co-pilot and a Filipino passenger.
“The drugs seized were intended for the Manila market in the Philippines and not the Malaysian market.
“The aircraft is believed to have been used to transport the drug shipment from Laos to Manila,” he said in a statement last night.
According to information shared by Laotian authorities, the aircraft arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport at about 11.30am local time.
Hussein said that at around 1.30pm, two vehicles arrived at the airport, where several airport personnel helped transfer 23 bags from the vehicles onto the aircraft.
An inspection of the bags uncovered 500 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing a total of 521kg.
Following the operation, Laotian authorities arrested 13 people, including the three individuals who had flown from Subang.
The other 10 suspects were Laotian nationals comprising three airport ground-handling company employees and seven personnel responsible for operating X-ray scanning machines.
All 13 suspects are being detained to assist investigations by the Laotian authorities.
Hussein said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had also launched a comprehensive investigation and would send NCID officers to Laos soon to record statements from the suspects.
The move is aimed at gathering further information about the drug syndicate involved, particularly any possible involvement of syndicate members in Malaysia, he said.
The latest statement clarifies that the aircraft is believed to have been carrying no drugs when it departed Subang, following earlier reports linking the flight from Malaysia to the discovery of millions of ringgit worth of drugs in Laos.
