Another Malaysian pilot arrested over Jakarta drug syndicate probe, says Bukit Aman

KUALA SELANGOR, Sept 9 — Another local pilot, in his 30s, has been arrested by the Bureau of Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) on Monday (Sept 7) in the Klang Valley to aid in investigations linked to the detention of a Malaysian co-pilot in Jakarta in July. The suspect is alleged to have handled the proceeds of drug sales.

This brings the total number of arrests in this probe to seven individuals, with the pilot being from another airline. On Friday (Sept 4), NCID director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan had mentioned six local men were arrested for their suspected involvement in an international drug trafficking syndicate. These arrests were based on information provided by the 39-year-old co-pilot during questioning by an NCID team in Jakarta from Aug 11-15.

He said the 39-year-old Malaysian co-pilot was apprehended by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 25 kilograms of drugs. Indonesian National Police (POLRI) reportedly discovered 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine, valued at approximately RM45 million.