Malaysian pilot accused of smuggling 70,000 ecstasy tablets into Jakarta, risks death penalty, say Indonesian police
A 39-year-old Malaysian pilot, MSO, faces the death penalty in Indonesia after being arrested at Jakarta's international airport with over 70,000 ecstasy tablets and meth. Police stated he was under the influence of drugs while flying a passenger plane from Kuala Lumpur, and it was his third time smuggling drugs into Indonesia, suspected of being part of an international syndicate.
Why it matters
This case highlights the severe consequences of drug trafficking in Indonesia, particularly for professionals like pilots, raising concerns about aviation safety and international drug syndicates. It also draws attention to Indonesia's strict anti-drug laws and the ongoing debate around the death penalty.
JAKARTA, July 31 — A Malaysian pilot risks the death penalty in Indonesia after being arrested at Jakarta’s international airport with more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase, according to police who said today the man was on drugs while flying a passenger plane.
The 39-year-old pilot, identified only by his initials, MSO, was arrested late Wednesday at Soekarno-Hatta international airport shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.
The airport customs office did not mention which airline the pilot worked for, but the flight number indicated it was a Malaysia Airlines plane.
“The results of his urine test came back positive for meth, MDMA, and cocaine. So, at the time of the flight, he was under the influence,” Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, an official at the airport customs office, told reporters in the Indonesian capital.
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