International31 July 2026

Indonesia arrests Malaysian pilot for allegedly smuggling 26 kg MDMA, customs office says

Indonesia arrested a Malaysian pilot who allegedly smuggled 26 kilograms of ​the mind-altering drug MDMA into the capital Jakarta ‌while on the job and under the influence of drugs, the customs office said on Friday.

The pilot, 39, was ​arrested on Wednesday at Jakarta's main airport.
The pilot, who ​was identified by the initials MS, had just ⁠flown a Malaysian Airlines plane from Kuala Lumpur to ​Jakarta, said customs officer Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang in a ​press conference on Friday.
Named a criminal suspect, the pilot had brought MDMA in a suitcase to Jakarta at the request of an unidentified ​person with the promise of a 50,000 ringgit ($12,239.90) reward, ​the customs office said.
The pilot had been under the influence of cocaine ‌and ⁠methamphetamine after a urine test, Hengky said, adding Indonesia and Malaysian authorities are in communication.
Hengky said the pilot was a courier.
Malaysia Airlines declined to comment on the case as ​it was under ​investigation, but ⁠said it does not tolerate any form of misconduct and is currently conducting an internal ​review into the matter. The company added that ​it ⁠will cooperate with relevant authorities.
Indonesia has strict drug laws and in 2015 executed two Australians in the Bali Nine drug ⁠ring ​for attempting to smuggle heroin out ​of the resort island of Bali.

-Reuters
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