A pilot for Malaysia Airlines was recently caught attempting to smuggle a staggering 57 pounds of drugs into Indonesia, raising further concerns as he is also suspected of possibly using drugs while operating flights.
The startling discovery was made evident through surveillance footage released by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise. The footage shows the pilot’s arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on July 29.
Upon retrieving his luggage, the 39-year-old pilot, known as MS from Malaysia, was stopped at a designated customs checkpoint. Authorities decided to examine his bags thoroughly at the capital’s airport.
Even though the pilot was initially directed to a priority lane, typically used by airline crew, customs officers still singled him out for further investigation.
During the inspection, four customs officials surrounded his luggage, eventually revealing a significant stash of illegal drugs concealed within one of his bags.
The pilot was found to be smuggling more than 70,000 ecstasy pills weighing about 57 pounds, along with 4 grams of methamphetamine, authorities said.
MS told investigators he had been promised 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit — more than $12,200 — to smuggle the drugs into Jakarta and was instructed to check into a local hotel after landing to make the deal, the Indonesian National Police said.
MS also told investigators he had previously delivered methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and later transported 15 pounds of methamphetamine to Jakarta.
Officers also seized a small bottle of urine, which they suspect MS would’ve used to falsify urine test results
The 39-year-old pilot is also accused of being under the influence of narcotics, police said.
The pilot “tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine in his urine test,” head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said at a press conference Friday.
“This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia,” Aritonang added.
MS was at the controls of Malaysia Airlines flight MH272 from Kuala Lumpur — with at least 170 passengers onboard — when he landed, authorities said.
Malaysia Airlines said in a statement that it is cooperating with authorities and has initiated an internal review of the incident.
“Malaysia Airlines wishes to reiterate that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently undertaking an internal review of the matter,” a spokesperson for the airline said Friday.
MS is currently being held at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency detention center and has been charged with narcotics-related offenses.
Indonesia is one of the toughest countries in the world when it comes to drug crimes — with penalties that ramp up sharply based on the type and amount of drugs involved.
If found guilty, MS could face death by firing squad or life in prison.
With Post wires