Six held over Malaysian co-pilot’s Jakarta drug case after four fled to Thailand, Vietnam and returned

On September 4, Bukit Aman's Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) apprehended six men in connection with a drug smuggling case involving a Malaysian co-pilot. The four suspects had fled to Thailand and Vietnam following the co-pilot's arrest at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia. The JSJN operation to detain the six men took place between August 20 and 28, based on information obtained during questioning of the 39-year-old co-pilot in Jakarta between August 11 and 15.

The six detainees, aged between 23 and 50, are believed to have acted as suppliers and couriers in the drug distribution syndicate involving the co-pilot. Two of the suspects fled to Thailand, being arrested upon their return to Malaysia by ferry through Kuah, Langkawi, Kedah. The other two went to Vietnam, being detained upon their arrival at Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

The remaining two suspects were apprehended in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, and Klang, Selangor. The co-pilot was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines flight MH727. Indonesian customs officers detected suspicious luggage during an X-ray scan, leading to the co-pilot's arrest.

The drugs seized, including 14 packets containing 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing about 25kg and four grammes of methamphetamine, were estimated to be worth RM45 million. Indonesian police allege the co-pilot had been promised RM50,000 to transport the drugs to Jakarta. The JSJN will share the investigation findings with the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and all six suspects are being detained under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, which allows for a 60-day detention period.