inp.polri.go.id - Tangerang. Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, Head of the Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta) Customs and Excise Main Service Office in Tangerang, Banten, revealed that a Malaysian pilot with the initials MS (39), who was a courier for ecstasy in an international network, tested positive for drugs while flying a plane to Indonesia.
"The pilot tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and cocaine in his urine test. This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia," Hengky explained in Tangerang on Friday (7/31/2026).
He said that flight MH727, the Kuala Lumpur-Indonesia route flown by suspect MS, was carrying at least 170 passengers. It is suspected that the pilot tested positive for narcotics during the flight.
"We also found the drug evidence in his luggage. We suspect this was for his personal use. And it turns out true as his urine test conducted by the Indonesian National Police (INP) Medical Center turned out positive," he said.
In this case, the pilot was found to have smuggled drugs three times. The first time, he brought methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia.
Then, the second time, he brought 7 kilograms of methamphetamine to Jakarta. The third time, he brought ecstasy and methamphetamine to Jakarta, which was eventually uncovered by Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise officers.
"It turns out that in addition to these 14 packages, he also carried 4 grams of methamphetamine. The ecstasy, the methamphetamine, and the methamphetamine were in his personal belongings," he said.
Based on the investigation, the illicit goods were stored in the pilot's checked luggage. The method used was to exploit the crew's privileged check-in lane (claim tag crew) at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, allowing them to use a different lane than regular passengers.
"Inside the large suitcase, there were a total of 14 packages of ecstasy pills, containing a total of 70,144 pills, hidden under a pile of clothing," he said.
Furthermore, Hengky stated that the suspect was paid approximately 50,000 ringgit (approximately IDR 220 million) for the smuggling of the illicit goods by the main actor, who is still under investigation.
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