Bukit Aman Says It Now Knows How Malaysia Airlines Pilot Got Drugs Through KLIA

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Police say they now have crucial information on how the Malaysia Airlines pilot allegedly got the drug-filled luggage out of Malaysia

Malaysian narcotics investigators have obtained information on how the Malaysian pilot arrested in Jakarta allegedly managed to clear security checks at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before flying to Indonesia.

However, Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said investigators were not yet revealing how the 39-year-old pilot allegedly got through the checks, as the matter remains under investigation.

The information was obtained during questioning of the pilot by a four-member NCID team in Jakarta on Wednesday, 12 August.

Hussein said investigators had also uncovered information about the local and international drug syndicates allegedly linked to the case, including individuals believed to be involved in their networks.

"The meetings over the first two days enabled the NCID team to identify the syndicates involved in Malaysia and overseas, as well as individuals involved in the domestic and international drug networks.

"We also obtained information on how the suspect managed to get through checks at KLIA, as well as the financial flows of the drug syndicates in Malaysia and abroad," he said.

The NCID team was initially scheduled to meet and question the pilot on 12 and 13 August

However, Hussein said Indonesian National Police (POLRI) subsequently allowed the Malaysian investigators to extend the questioning for another day until 14 August, following the progress made during the first two days.

"The meetings have produced significant results for NCID in several areas," he said.

"Among them is assisting us in tracking down members of the drug syndicate involved in Malaysia."

Hussein said the Malaysian investigators received good cooperation from POLRI, which facilitated their access to the detained pilot.

He added that the pilot also cooperated well during the questioning sessions.

Police say the information could help expose a wider drug network

According to Hussein, information obtained from the pilot will be channelled to drug enforcement agencies in countries connected to the alleged international network.

This would allow foreign authorities to act on intelligence relating to suspected syndicate members and their operations outside Malaysia.

"The latest breakthrough could provide investigators with new leads in determining the full network behind the drugs allegedly carried by the pilot and how the consignment was able to leave Malaysia," he said.

Police are also investigating a telephone number allegedly used by the syndicate to communicate with the pilot. The number is believed to have been registered using false particulars.

Malaysian investigators have also recorded a statement from KLIA personnel as part of the investigation.

However, police have stressed that it is still too early to establish or rule out the involvement of any airport personnel.

The pilot was arrested after arriving in Jakarta with 25kg of drugs

The pilot was arrested by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on 28 July after arriving from Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesian authorities reportedly seized 15 packets containing more than 70,000 capsules suspected to be ecstasy and methamphetamine, with a combined weight of about 25kg, and an estimated street value of RM45 million.

The arrest triggered parallel investigations in Malaysia into how the consignment allegedly passed through KLIA and the wider network behind the shipment.

The latest questioning has now given Malaysian investigators information on both fronts, with NCID saying it has identified suspected members of the domestic and international syndicates and obtained leads on how the drugs allegedly left Malaysia.