Co-pilot arrested in Soetta, Malaysia Police assigned at airport to prevent drug smuggling

Screenshot of Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Malaysian government is considering assigning police officers inside the airport area to prevent drug smuggling practices, as was done by the co-pilot of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) who was caught at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta), Cengkareng, Banten.

"Things that involve aviation security, need to be placed with members of the Royal Malaysian Police, because currently the personnel on duty are from the ranks of auxiliary police (special police)," said Malaysian Communications Minister and Malaysian Government Spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 5.

Until now, the process of checking goods at Malaysian airports is carried out by immigration officers with the assistance of the Malaysian assistance police.

In Malaysia, auxiliary police or special police are volunteers or people from the civilian community, who wear uniforms similar to police personnel with the words auxiliary police, who are assigned to help police tasks in maintaining security in public areas such as airports, stations, and other public areas.

Fahmi said the decision on the placement of the police in the airport area would be determined after the government received and reviewed a detailed report on the case of the Malaysian co-pilot.

The Malaysian police have also been asked to examine aspects at the airport that may be a loophole for drug smuggling.

"We also need to know who is likely to be involved. Those involved need to be brought to court and several comprehensive actions need to be taken to ensure that the gap can be closed immediately," he explained.

Currently, the case of the Malaysia Airlines co-pilot with the initials MSO is being handled by the Indonesian National Police. MSO was caught by the Indonesian Customs Service while trying to smuggle 70,144 ecstasy tablets weighing 26 kilograms (kg) through Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

On the other hand, Malaysian authorities are also investigating the alleged involvement of staff or officers of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in helping MSO bring ecstasy out of Malaysia to Indonesia.

Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian government also encouraged Malaysia Airlines to review the background of all its flight crew, including improving the health examination protocol for flight crew, especially pilots and co-pilots.