Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Arrest Pilot Smuggling 26 kg of Narcotics, Commission III Expresses Appreciation

Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has expressed appreciation for the officers of the Customs and Excise Office at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport who foiled an attempt to smuggle ecstasy by a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot with the initials MS.

According to him, Customs mitigated the potential misuse of the route commonly used by aircraft crews, showing that security is not lax.

“Customs analysed the aspect of security on the route usually used by crews, and they were not off guard,” said Sahroni at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (4/8).

The Malaysian pilot MS was not only caught red-handed attempting to smuggle narcotics, but was also declared positive for drugs after duty flying an aircraft.

According to Sahroni, pilots are not permitted to consume alcoholic beverages, let alone narcotics.

“With this incident, it shows that the route is strict, not arbitrary, which is why it was detected. However, do not become complacent — continue to carry out surveillance on the special route at all airports,” he said.

Customs officers at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, carried out an x-ray inspection of international passengers’ checked baggage. Officers spotted a suspicious suitcase, which was then collected by its owner, MS. Upon inspection, officers found narcotics in 14 large bundles and one package of crystal methamphetamine.

“The total amount of ecstasy evidence is 70,114 pills with a net weight of 25,194.83 grams (25 kilograms),” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday (31/7).

Customs, together with Sub-Directorate II of the Bareskrim Narcotics Crime Directorate, conducted a joint investigation and found that MS had been asked by someone to bring the ecstasy to Jakarta for a fee of 50,000 ringgit, or around Rp220 million.

“The suspect was to be directed by a person suspected of residing in Malaysia, that someone would collect it at a hotel,” he explained.

The Malaysian pilot is currently being held 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.