Malaysian pilot risks death over 70,000 ecstasy pills

A Malaysian pilot arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta international airport with more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets risks the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty, Indonesian officials said.

The 39-year-old pilot, identified only by the initials MSO, was arrested Wednesday shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The airport customs office did not name the airline, but AFP reported that the flight number indicated it was a Malaysia Airlines plane.

Malaysia Airlines said Friday it took the allegations seriously and had launched an internal review. The carrier said it would cooperate with authorities and declined further comment while the Indonesian investigation continues.

Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, an official at the airport customs office, said the pilot's urine test was positive for meth, MDMA and cocaine. He said the pilot was under the influence at the time of the flight.

Customs officials said they found 14 bags of ecstasy, amounting to more than 70,000 pills, in the pilot's 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 told investigators this was his third attempt to smuggle drugs: the second to Indonesia and one in Malaysia.

Awaludin, a police official, said police suspected MSO was part of an international syndicate and that he had been charged with smuggling.

Indonesia has tough 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, when one Indonesian and three Nigerians were shot by firing squad.