The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) are now widening their investigation into the drug trafficking case involving a Malaysian pilot who was arrested in Indonesia after allegedly being caught with more than 70,000 ecstasy pills.
Speaking at a press conference at the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK), Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), revealed they are looking into the entire drug distribution chain, from where the drugs came from to how they were allegedly smuggled out of Malaysia.
Drug supplies obtained from an Ampang apartment; suspect checked in his luggage early
According to Datuk Hussein, investigators have already identified a suspected drug supply source in Ampang and obtained several phone numbers believed to be linked to the operation.
“The suspect is believed to have collected the drugs from an apartment in Ampang before checking in his luggage early at KLIA.
“He then boarded a flight to Kota Kinabalu that morning, returned to KLIA later the same day, and departed for Jakarta that night,” he said.
Authorities are also probing how the suspect managed to get past security screening at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before boarding his flight. Police believe the case may involve an international drug syndicate with links to Indonesia and said they are working closely with the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) to uncover everyone involved.
The 39-year-old Malaysian pilot was arrested last Wednesday at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta after Indonesian Customs officers noticed suspicious items in his luggage during an X-ray scan at the international arrivals checkpoint.
A subsequent inspection uncovered:
- 14 large packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing a total of 25.19kg
- A packet containing 2.75g of methamphetamine
- 0.08g of methamphetamine residue inside a glass pipe.
The Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) has maintained that all security screening procedures at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were carried out in accordance with established protocols during the baggage inspection involving the Malaysia Airlines pilot who was arrested in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs, according to Harian Metro.
AKPS Director-General Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said no suspicious images were detected during the X-ray screening of the suspect’s luggage.
The suspect, who tested positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine after flying a passenger aircraft to Indonesia, is facing the death penalty after being charged with smuggling more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his luggage, as reported by Utusan.
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Also read: 3 M’sians Carrying RM4.3mil Worth of Meth Arrested in Hat Yai, Drugs Intended for Delivery to M’sia
