Foreign Airline Co-Pilot Arrested, Customs and Criminal Investigation Agency Successfully Disrupted the Circulation of Narcotics Worth IDR 207.9 Billion

JAKARTA - Soekarno-Hatta Customs together with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle narcotics by a foreign airline co-pilot of Malaysian nationality at Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Arrival Airport, on Wednesday, July 29.

The disclosure of this case began with the monitoring of customs officers of international passengers' baggage through an x-ray machine at Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

When analyzing the scan results, officers found a suspicious suitcase which was then taken by a passenger with the initials MS, a Malaysian citizen, who was known to be wearing a co-pilot uniform.

After further examination, MS was proven to have carried 70,114 pieces of narcotics of the first category, MDMA (ecstasy) with a gross weight of 26 kilograms, as well as methamphetamine (sabu) weighing 4 grams gross.

The officer then took MS and his belongings to the customs inspection room to undergo an in-depth examination.

From the results of the examination, 14 large packages containing MDMA with a gross weight of 26 kilograms or 25,194.83 grams net were hidden in the suitcase, and officers also found 4 grams of gross methamphetamine in the suspect's bag.

Based on the results of the initial interrogation, MS admitted that he was asked by someone to bring the narcotics to Jakarta in exchange for 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit and upon arrival in Jakarta, the goods were planned to be taken by someone whose identity is still being investigated and is suspected to be a Malaysian citizen.

In addition, the suspect also admitted that he had been a drug courier twice, once to Sabah and once in an attempt to smuggle to Jakarta which was successfully thwarted. All of these confessions are still being investigated by investigators as part of the case development.

Following up on the findings, the Customs immediately coordinated with Subdirectorate II of the Narcotics Crime Directorate of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit to develop an investigation into the suspected network involved.

Furthermore, the suspect and all the evidence were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police to undergo further investigation.

From this action, the police estimate that they have managed to save around 130,020 lives from potential drug abuse and prevent social and economic losses due to the illicit circulation of narcotics, which are estimated to reach IDR 207.9 billion.

Director General of Customs and Excise, Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Djaka Budhi Utama, conveyed that the success of the disclosure of this case showed the importance of inter-agency synergy in facing the growing narcotics crime with various modus operandi.

"Drug smuggling is a serious threat to society. The success of this disclosure is the result of the alertness of officers and close collaboration between Customs and the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police. Synergies like this will continue to be strengthened to break the chain of narcotics circulation from the entrance of the country," he said.

He also emphasized the commitment of the Customs Service to continue to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement agencies and all stakeholders in efforts to prevent narcotics smuggling.

According to him, the support and active participation of the community are also important factors in protecting Indonesia from the threat of narcotics circulation which can damage social life and threaten the future of the nation.