Malaysian Pilot Arrested as Customs Seizes 70,000 Ecstasy Pills

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance has thwarted a drug smuggling attempt allegedly involving a Malaysian pilot at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday (31/07/2026). Working alongside Soekarno-Hatta Airport authorities, Customs intercepted an international drug trafficking attempt involving 70,114 ecstasy pills, weighing a net total of 25.19 kg, packed into 14 plastic bags.

The Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, stated that Customs had detected the smuggling attempt by a Malaysian pilot on 29 July 2026. “Some time ago, Customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport successfully conducted surveillance and enforcement against an attempt to smuggle ecstasy-type narcotics on 29 July 2026,” Djaka said during a press conference on Friday.

Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Type C Main Customs Office, explained the chronology of the enforcement. He noted that authorities were monitoring the arrival of a pilot from Malaysia on flight number MH-727. During an X-ray inspection at International Arrival Terminal 3, officers became suspicious of a suitcase carried by a Malaysian national, identified by the initials MS, who was wearing a co-pilot uniform.

Overall, this enforcement action is estimated to have saved approximately 130,020 lives from potential narcotics abuse and prevented potential social and economic losses resulting from the illegal drug trade valued at Rp207.9 billion.