Crime & Public Safety
Malaysian pilot risks death over 70,000 ecstasy pills
A Malaysian pilot arrested in Indonesia with more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase risks the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted of smuggling, Indonesian officials said.
The 39-year-old pilot, identified only by the initials MSO, was arrested Wednesday at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The airport customs office did not name the airline, but the flight number indicated it was a Malaysia Airlines plane.
Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, an official at the airport customs office, said the pilot's urine test was positive for meth, MDMA and cocaine and that he was under the influence during the flight. Customs officials said they found 14 bags of ecstasy, amounting to more than 70,000 pills, in his suitcase, and four grams of meth in his hand luggage.
The pilot told investigators he had been promised about 50,000 Malaysian ringgit, just over $12,000, to deliver the narcotics in Jakarta, officials said. He also said this was his third attempt to smuggle drugs: twice to Indonesia and once in Malaysia.
Awaludin Amin, of the police drug crimes unit, said investigators suspected the pilot was part of an international syndicate and that he had been charged with smuggling.
Malaysia Airlines said Friday it took the allegations seriously, had launched an internal review and would cooperate with authorities. The Malaysian embassy in Jakarta said it had received notice of the arrest of a Malaysian national and was working with Indonesian authorities to provide consular access.
Indonesia has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers, but has maintained a moratorium on executions for several years. It last carried out executions for drug offences in 2016.
Update
The Malaysian embassy in Jakarta said it had received notice of the arrest of a Malaysian national and was working with Indonesian authorities to provide consular access.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 12:18:31 UTC.
Update
Malaysia Airlines said it had launched an internal review and would cooperate with authorities.
The pilot told investigators he had been promised about 50,000 Malaysian ringgit, just over $12,000, to deliver the narcotics in Jakarta.
The pilot told investigators this was his third attempt to smuggle drugs: the second to Indonesia and one in Malaysia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 06:05:51 UTC.
Update
Customs officials said they found 14 bags containing more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in the pilot's suitcase and four grammes of meth in his hand luggage.
The pilot was arrested late Wednesday at Soekarno-Hatta international airport shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.
An airport customs official said a urine test was positive for meth, MDMA and cocaine and said the pilot was under the influence during the flight.
Police said they suspected the pilot was part of an international syndicate and that he had smuggled drugs to Indonesia twice before.
The airport customs office did not name the airline, but the flight number indicated it was a Malaysia Airlines plane.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 05:03:30 UTC.
Update
Police said the pilot had more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase.
The pilot was identified only by the initials MSO and was described as 39 years old.
The customs office said he was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta international airport shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.
Police said the man was on drugs while flying a passenger plane.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 04:23:18 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The airport customs office did not name the airline, though the flight number indicated a Malaysia Airlines plane.
The pilot has been charged, but the supplied material does not say he has been convicted.
Source
AFP news report published on .