Malaysia Airlines pilot held for drug smuggling

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesian authorities said on Friday they have arrested a Malaysia Airlines pilot accused of smuggling more than 26 kilos of ecstasy and a package of methamphetamine shortly after he landed in Jakarta ’s international airport.

The 39-year-old Malaysian national, identified only by his initial, MS, was also allegedly on duty while under the influence of narcotics, said Eko Hadi Santoso, director of narcotics crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency.

The case was uncovered late Tuesday when customs officers inspecting baggage at the arrival terminal of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport noticed a suspicious suitcase during an X-ray screening.

The luggage was later collected by the suspect, a pilot for Malaysian Airlines on flight MH727 from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, Santoso said.

During questioning, MS allegedly told investigators that he had been instructed by another person to transport the ecstasy to Jakarta in exchange for 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (about $11,700).

The pilot was told that after arriving in Jakarta he would receive further instructions from a person believed to be in Malaysia and that the drugs would be collected from his hotel by another individual.

According to Santoso, the pilot admitted to previously transporting drugs on two occasions. He told investigators that he had once delivered methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and later transported 7 kilograms (15 pounds) of methamphetamine to Jakarta.

A drug test administered to the suspect showed positive results for methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine, Santoso said.

Indonesia’s narcotics law carries severe penalties for trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs, including the possibility of the death penalty.