New Modus Operandi! Recruiting Pilots as Drug Couriers Exploits Airport Facilities

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance (DJBC Kemenkeu) has revealed that drug smuggling methods are becoming increasingly massive, with syndicates now beginning to utilise pilots as drug couriers.

Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Type C Main Customs Office, stated that smuggling via pilots is being carried out by taking advantage of special facilities at the airport.

“The perpetrators stored 14 packets of ecstasy inside a suitcase. Because it had a crew claim tag, when they checked in in Kuala Lumpur, the path was different from that of regular passengers, as the claim tag identified them as crew,” said Hengky when met by journalists at Soekarno-Hatta Customs on Friday (31/07/2026).

This is possible because pilots receive special privileges, such as dedicated baggage facilities and faster inspection processes.

“This special treatment is indeed provided to pilots; it is a global standard because they are considered low-risk. Pilots have special lanes and perhaps separate baggage handling. This is likely why syndicates feel that smuggling via pilots is safe,” Hengky continued.

Hengky added that the rogue pilots store the prohibited items in carry-on bags to pass through X-ray machines easily without being required to check them into the hold.

“In essence, goods inspections still go through X-ray, including for pilots, but since they claim to be carrying hand-carry luggage, these inspections are still conducted on a random basis,” he explained.

Consequently, the authorities intend to tighten baggage inspections, particularly regarding random checks.

“Following this incident, we will likely tighten our inspection procedures,” said Hengky.