A Malaysian pilot was arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport after a large quantity of drugs was allegedly found inside his luggage.
The case has since expanded, with Malaysian and Indonesian authorities investigating the alleged drug network and how the luggage passed through KLIA.
Here is what we know so far.
Arrested after arriving in Jakarta
According to the Indonesian National Police, the 39-year-old pilot arrived in Jakarta from Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesian Customs officers selected his luggage for further inspection after he arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport.
Officers allegedly found 14 packages containing 70,144 ecstasy pills, weighing around 26kg, hidden beneath clothes in his checked luggage. Around 4g of methamphetamine was also allegedly found among his personal belongings.
However, the discovery was only the beginning of a wider investigation.
Allegedly promised RM50,000
Indonesian authorities claimed that the pilot had been promised around RM50,000 to transport the drugs.
He was also allegedly instructed to bring the shipment to Jakarta while the person believed to be behind the operation remained under investigation.
Authorities also claimed that he had previously transported drugs to Sabah and Jakarta. However, these claims remain as allegations and have not been proven in court.
Tested positive for drugs
The investigation then took another serious turn after the pilot underwent a drug test, with the Indonesian National Police saying that the pilot tested positive for MDMA, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Authorities also believe he may have consumed drugs while operating the flight, which reportedly carried around 170 passengers.
Meanwhile, Malaysian police began tracing where the alleged shipment came from.
Drugs allegedly collected in Ampang
According to The Star, Bukit Aman’s initial investigation found that the drugs were allegedly collected from an apartment in Ampang two days before the flight.
Police also traced a phone number allegedly used to communicate with members of the syndicate.
Malaysian authorities are now working with their Indonesian counterparts to identify the supplier and the person expected to receive the drugs in Jakarta.
Questions over KLIA screening
The case has also raised another major question. How did the luggage allegedly pass through KLIA?
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency confirmed that the pilot and his luggage underwent the required checks at KLIA. However, the luggage reportedly did not trigger an alarm during the initial screening.
Authorities said the scanner did not display suspicious images that required the luggage to undergo further checks.
Bukit Aman has since sought CCTV footage from KLIA to determine how the alleged shipment passed through the airport.
An airport security employee has also reportedly been identified as a person of interest in the investigation. However, no wrongdoing involving the employee has been proven thus far.
Airline conducting internal review
In an official statement reported by The Edge Malaysia, the airline company said it would fully cooperate with the relevant authorities.
The national carrier added it would not comment further while the case remained under investigation by Indonesian authorities and will not tolerate misconduct while it conducts its own internal review.
The airline also said the safety, security and integrity of its operations remain its top priorities.
Under Indonesian narcotics laws, the pilot faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.
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