Malaysian pilot flies passenger jet to Jakarta while high on meth, MDMA and cocaine
A Malaysian pilot who tested positive for meth, MDMA and cocaine after flying a passenger plane to Indonesia risks the death penalty for allegedly smuggling more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase, officials said Friday.
A Malaysian pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed, was apprehended at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after an apparent drug-fueled flight from Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft in question was a Malaysia Airlines jet, though the airport customs office declined to confirm the carrier. The pilot's urine test revealed traces of methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine, indicating he was under the influence at the time of the flight.
Customs officials discovered 14 bags containing ecstasy pills, valued at over 70,000 pills, and four grams of methamphetamine, believed to have been intended for personal use, in the pilot's baggage. The pilot, identified only as MSO, confessed to having attempted drug smuggling three times before, twice in Indonesia and once in Malaysia.
Indonesian police suspect the pilot's involvement in an international drug syndicate and have charged him with smuggling. Under Indonesian law, the pilot faces the death penalty or life imprisonment. The Malaysian embassy in Jakarta affirmed their respect for the Indonesian legal process and is collaborating with authorities to facilitate consular access for the detained Malaysian citizen.
Malaysia Airlines expressed serious concern over the allegations and has initiated an internal investigation, committing to full cooperation with relevant authorities. Drug trafficking remains a significant issue in Indonesia, where dozens of foreign traffickers are currently serving death sentences, although the country has maintained a moratorium on executions for several years.
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