Malaysian Pilot Admits to Two Drug Smuggling Trips to Indonesia, Paid Equivalent of $220 Million Rupiah

A Malaysian airline pilot, Mohd Saufi bin Othman (MSO), has confessed to having supplied illicit drugs to Indonesia on two separate occasions. Brig. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri), revealed that MSO was apprehended by a joint team while in the process of his third drug smuggling operation into the country. "The suspect Saufi had transported narcotics three times. The first time, he brought methamphetamine to Sabah. The second time, he carried 7 kilograms of methamphetamine to Jakarta, and this third time, he was bringing ecstasy and methamphetamine to Jakarta," Eko stated in a written statement on Friday (31/7). Eko further disclosed that MSO's urine test results were positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy, and cocaine. "The urine examination results were positive for Methamphetamine (Sabu), MDMA (Ecstasy/Inex), and Cocaine," he added. The suspect admitted to receiving instructions from a drug dealer based in Malaysia to transport the illicit substances to Jakarta, with a promised remuneration of 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit, equivalent to approximately IDR 220 million (around $15,000 USD). "The suspect was to be directed by someone (allegedly residing in Malaysia) that there would be an individual who would pick it up at the hotel," Eko explained. However, the joint team successfully thwarted the suspect's endeavor. Upon inspection, MSO was found to be carrying 70,114 ecstasy pills, weighing approximately 25 kilograms, and a 2.7-gram package of methamphetamine concealed within a suitcase. "During the inspection, the team found narcotics in the form of ecstasy in 14 large bags and one package of methamphetamine," Eko said.