SHAH ALAM, Aug 4 — Malaysian police have identified a Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) staff member linked to the international drug smuggling case involving a local pilot detained in Jakarta with RM45 million worth of narcotics.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that the individual, who was among the personnel on duty for screening at KLIA, will be summoned shortly to have his statement recorded.
“The individual is among the staff involved in screening at KLIA, we will call him for questioning and if necessary, we will make an arrest,” Hussein stated during a media conference at the Selangor NCID headquarters today.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the 39-year-old pilot procured the drugs from an apartment in Ampang before transporting them to the airport. Current investigative efforts are heavily focusing on airport security measures and entry point protocols.
Detailing the suspect’s movements, Hussein explained that the pilot arrived at KLIA in the morning to check in the luggage containing the narcotics, leaving the baggage at the airport while he operated a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon returning to Kuala Lumpur, he retrieved the luggage before departing for Jakarta.
“The check also found that the suspect had come to KLIA in the morning and checked in the luggage containing the drugs and left it at KLIA before flying to Kota Kinabalu and turning back to Kuala Lumpur and leaving for Jakarta with the luggage involved,” Hussein said.
Malaysian authorities are currently waiting for official clearance from the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) to send a team of investigating officers to Indonesia to conduct an interview with the suspect.
The case follows the pilot’s arrest by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after attempting to traffic 25 kilograms of illicit drugs. According to POLRI, inspection of the suspect’s baggage revealed 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy and methamphetamine capsules with an estimated market value of RM45 million in Indonesia.
–NMT
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