KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian pilot who allegedly attempted to smuggle more than 70,000 ecstasy pills into Indonesia has tested positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine, according to Indonesian customs officials.
The 39-year-old pilot, identified by his initials MSO, was arrested on Wednesday (July 29) at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines flight MH727.
Indonesian authorities said the pilot could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted under the country’s strict anti-drug laws.
Airport customs official Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang said urine test results showed the suspect had tested positive for three types of drugs.
“The results of his urine test came back positive for meth, MDMA, and cocaine. So, at the time of the flight, he was under the influence,” Hengky told reporters in Jakarta, as quoted by the AFP.
“What concerns all of us is that this person’s profession is a pilot, and at the time he arrived, he had just flown that plane from Kuala Lumpur to Indonesia,” he said.
Customs officials reportedly discovered 14 packages containing more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets, weighing about 25 kilogrammes, in the pilot’s suitcase. Four grammes of methamphetamine, believed to be for personal use, were also found in his hand luggage.
Hengky said the suspect may have assumed that pilots and crew members would not undergo the same level of inspection as other passengers.
“He likely did not expect to be checked in the special customs lane for pilots and crew, but the monitoring we carry out is the same,” he said.
According to Indonesian authorities, the suspect admitted during questioning that this was his third attempt to smuggle drugs, with two attempts involving Indonesia and one involving Malaysia.
Jakarta police chief Awaludin said investigators believed MSO could be linked to an international drug syndicate.
The suspect has been charged with drug trafficking, which carries the possibility of capital punishment or life imprisonment under Indonesian law.
Indonesia is known for having some of the world’s toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for convicted traffickers, although executions have been suspended in recent years.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines said it would cooperate fully with Indonesian authorities while the investigation is ongoing.
In a statement to Bernama, the national carrier said it would comply with all applicable laws and regulations but declined to comment further as the matter remained under investigation.
“Malaysia Airlines wishes to reiterate that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently conducting an internal review into the matter,” it said.
The airline added that the safety, security and integrity of its operations remained its highest priority.
Indonesia Customs and Excise director general Djaka Budi Utama said the seized drugs were estimated to be worth about 60 billion rupiah (RM14 million).
According to Bernama, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) also said it was investigating the incident from a regulatory perspective, including whether there were any lapses before the pilot departed Malaysia.
“The matter will be investigated from a regulatory perspective, including the airline’s compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and the airport operator’s security processes, to determine whether there were any lapses prior to the individual’s departure from Malaysia,” CAAM told Bernama.
The aviation regulator said it was gathering relevant facts and would strengthen oversight of existing requirements involving baggage screening and security procedures, including those applicable to aircrew. – July 31, 2026