SHAH ALAM, Aug 4 - Police believe the Malaysian pilot arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of smuggling in drugs obtained the narcotics from an apartment in Ampang before departing for Jakarta on July 29.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the probe revealed that the suspect pre-checked his baggage containing drugs at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before departing for Kota Kinabalu.
Hussein said the suspect then returned to KLIA that day before departing for Jakarta that night, as reported by Berita Harian.
“Police found that the suspect obtained the drug supplies at an apartment area in Ampang, and we also identified the number he called.
“The suspect is believed to have pre-checked his baggage at KLIA before leaving for Kota Kinabalu. After that, he returned to KLIA and went on to Jakarta that night,” he told a press conference at the Selangor contingent police headquarters today.
Hussein added that police are looking into how the drug-filled baggage passed security screenings at the airport.
He said the probe is focusing on the domestic drug source, the baggage passing security checks, and the possibility that the suspect is involved in an international drug smuggling syndicate headquartered in Indonesia.
He explained that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is working with the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) and Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) on the investigation.
“We are awaiting approval from POLRI to interview the suspect. Once approval is obtained, the investigative team will leave for Indonesia,” he said.
Hussein added that police records show several cases involving pilots acting as drug mules, including a 2012 incident where drugs were smuggled to Australia and two more cases in 2017.
