Thursday, November 5, 2026

39-year-old Malaysian pilot faces death penalty over alleged drug smuggling in Indonesia

The pilot, identified only as MS, was arrested with more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his luggage.

• July 31, 2026
Aerial view of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta (edited horizon). The view taken in 2 January 2010 from Garuda Indonesia airplane during take-off. The architecture reflect Indonesian vernacular architecture of Javanese Joglo roof with Pendopo as gate lounges (waiting hall) surrounded with tropical gardens.

A 39-year-old Malaysian pilot, identified only as MS, has been arrested with more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his luggage in Indonesia, police said on Friday.

The suspect was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after flying passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta late on Wednesday.

Authorities said a urine test showed that the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.

“The results of his urine test came back positive for meth, MDMA, and cocaine. So, at the time of the flight, he was under the influence,” airport customs official Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang told reporters.

“What concerns all of us is that this person’s profession is a pilot, and at the time he arrived, he had just flown that plane from Kuala Lumpur to Indonesia,” he added.

Customs officers said they found 14 bags containing more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in the pilot’s checked luggage, along with four grams of methamphetamine in his hand luggage, which investigators believe was intended for personal use.

Authorities said the suspect had likely expected to pass through a dedicated customs lane for flight crew but was subjected to the same screening procedures as other travellers.

If convicted of drug trafficking under Indonesian law, the suspect could face the death penalty.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Finland and a scenery from the country

Heading 4

Finland invites singles globally for blind dinner date

The selected participants will go on a four-day culinary experience in Helsinki and Tampere between February 9 and 19, 2027.

Blessing CEO and IVD

Showbiz

Blessing CEO announces breakup from IVD

Ms Okoro made the disclosure in a video on Wednesday.

States

Adamawa: Resident allegedly stabs neighbour to death over roasted meat

The police command in Adamawa has arrested a 28-year-old man, Ibrahim Augustine, for stabbing a 21-year-old man, Haggai Markus, to death over roasted meat.

Anti-Corruption

Court jails Edo man two years for fraud, impersonation

The Edo State High Court division in Benin City, has sentenced Samuel Akove Adavize to two years’ imprisonment for impersonation and fraud.

sanitation

States

North-East ‌stakeholders seek more funding, manpower for sanitary inspection

Zanna Lawal, an environmentalist, attributed the challenges in sanitary inspection to corruption and weak enforcement of sanitation laws.