521Kg Meth Seized In Laos Private Jet Did Not Originate From M’sia — Police

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 – The seizure of 521 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine aboard a private jet in Laos on October 1 did not originate from Malaysia, as the aircraft departed Subang without cargo before being loaded in Luang Prabang for delivery to the Philippines.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) Director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan clarified that information provided by Laotian authorities confirmed the chartered flight departed empty from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang to Luang Prabang.

The flight carried only three individuals: a Singaporean pilot, a Malaysian co-pilot, and a Filipino passenger.

“The seized drugs were meant for the Manila market in the Philippines and not the Malaysian market. The aircraft departed from Subang Airport without any cargo before it was believed to have been used to transport the drug shipment from Laos to Manila,” Hussein said in an official statement on Tuesday night.

Seizure Timeline and International Arrests

Laotian authorities provided detailed operational timelines tracking the private jet’s movement and subsequent drug loading process:

• Arrival in Laos: The private aircraft landed at Luang Prabang International Airport at approximately 11:30 AM local time on October 1.
• Cargo Transfer: At 1:30 PM, two vehicles entered the airport grounds, where airport personnel assisted in moving 23 bags onto luggage trolleys to be loaded onto the plane.
• Contraband Discovery: Inspection of the 23 bags revealed 500 packages containing 521 kg of methamphetamine.
• Suspects Detained: Laotian authorities arrested 13 individuals in connection with the bust. This includes the pilot, co-pilot, and passenger who flew in from Subang, alongside 10 Laotian nationals comprising three ground handling staff and seven X-ray machine operators.

PDRM Investigation and Inter-Agency Coordination

The latest statement from Bukit Aman clarifies initial media reports that linked the drug discovery directly to the flight’s origin in Malaysia.

To assist with international intelligence sharing and determine potential local linkages, NCID officers will travel to Laos in the near future to record statements from the detained suspects and investigate any local syndicate involvement.

–NMT