Further investigation revealed the pilot was “likely” on drugs while operating a flight from Malaysia to Indonesia

NEED TO KNOW

• A Malaysian Airlines pilot is accused of smuggling over 57 pounds of drugs to Indonesia and tested positive for multiple substances after his arrest
• Authorities say the pilot was promised $12,200 to transport the drugs and had prior smuggling assignments
• Malaysia Airlines says they are cooperating with authorities and conducting an internal investigation into the incident

Indonesian authorities have released video footage of the moments leading up to the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot accused of smuggling more than 57 pounds of illicit drugs into the country.  

The arrest unfolded on Tuesday, July 28, as the pilot entered the baggage inspection area at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia — located outside the capital city of Jakarta. In a video shared Monday by the country’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the man is seen retrieving his luggage from the carousel before passing through a controlled customs checkpoint. There, officers say they searched his bag and found multiple substances. 

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The search resulted in the seizure of 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing about 26 kilograms (57 pounds) as well as 4 grams of methamphetamine, authorities report. “Officers also seized a small bottle of urine, suspected of being prepared to falsify urine test results if required during the investigation,” the post says. 

The pilot was later determined to be a 39-year-old Malaysian national, identified only by his initials, MS. According to a release from the Indonesian National Police (INP), MS was promised a payment of 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit ($12,200) to transport the substances to Jakarta. He was reportedly instructed to check into a local hotel before a scheduled handoff. 

Further investigation revealed the pilot tested positive for drugs shortly after his arrest. 

“The pilot tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine is his urine test. This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia,” Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise, said during a press conference on Friday, per INP. 

He added that the flight, MH272 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was carrying at least 170 passengers. 

In a statement shared with the local media, Malaysia Airlines said it was cooperating with authorities and launched its own internal investigation. 

“Malaysia Airlines wishes to reiterate that it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently undertaking an internal review of the matter,” per the Associated Press. 

Investigators also determined the pilot had previously been involved in prior drug smuggling assignments. According to INP, MS had previously transported methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and another 7-kilogram package (15 pounds) of methamphetamine to Jakarta on a previous trip. 

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MS is currently being held at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency detention center and has been charged with narcotics-related crimes, the INP reports.

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