House Commission III Applauds Customs Officers for Foiling Pilot's Drug Smuggling Attempt
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Ahmad Sahroni, has praised Customs and Excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for successfully preventing an ecstasy smuggling attempt by a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot with the initials MS.
“That is something to be commended for Customs, in analysing the aspect that security on the route normally used by crew members was not neglected,” Sahroni said when met at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
According to him, the success demonstrates the thoroughness of Customs officers in analysing the potential abuse of routes commonly used by aircraft crew, ensuring vigilance in their security operations.
Sahroni said this forms an important part of efforts to maintain security in relation to narcotics circulation, and must be sustained through continuous oversight.
Responding to the fact that MS tested positive for drugs, including whilst flying aircraft, Sahroni emphasised the importance of testing pilots. He reminded that pilots are not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages, let alone narcotics.
Meanwhile, regarding indications that the suspect had smuggled drugs before, Sahroni added that security at the special crew channel must remain under strict surveillance.
“With this incident, that route is indeed strict, not just anyone can pass through, which is why it was detected. However, do not become complacent — continue to maintain surveillance on the special channel at every airport across this republic,” he said.
Earlier, the Narcotics Crime Directorate of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) explained that pilot MS was arrested on Tuesday (28/7) and subsequently named a suspect.
The arrest began when Customs officers at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, conducted an x-ray inspection of international passengers’ baggage. Officers spotted a suspicious suitcase, which was then collected by its owner, MS.
Upon this discovery, officers examined the suitcase. Inside, they found 14 large packages of ecstasy and one package of crystal methamphetamine.
“The total quantity of ecstasy evidence amounts to 70,114 pills with a net weight of 25,194.83 grams (25 kilograms),” said the Director of the Narcotics Crime Directorate of Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday (31/7).
From the interrogation by a joint team of Customs and Sub-Directorate II of the Bareskrim Narcotics Crime Directorate, it was found that MS had been instructed by someone to bring the ecstasy to Jakarta for a fee of 50,000 ringgit, or approximately Rp220 million.
“Upon arrival in Jakarta, the suspect would be directed by a person believed to reside in Malaysia, that someone would collect the drugs at a hotel,” Eko said.
The suspect has been detained at the Bareskrim Polri State Detention House on suspicion of Article 113 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.