M'sia Airlines pilot, 39, smuggles 26kg of ecstasy into Jakarta

A 39-year-old Malaysian pilot is facing the death penalty after being caught smuggling 26kg of the MDMA drug, commercially known as ecstasy, as well as methamphetamine, or ice, into Indonesia.

The 70,000 pills were flown in from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Jakarta, Indonesia on a Malaysia Airlines flight on Jul. 29, reported The Star and Malay Mail.

The man is currently being held in Jakarta to assist in investigations.

Suspicious bag

The pilot was arrested after custom officers in Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport detected suspicious images in a crew member's luggage during an X-ray scan.

Further checks revealed 14 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and 2.7g of methamphetamine.

The man also tested positive for both drugs, as well as cocaine.

According to The Star, the suspect admitted to acting as a drug mule for an international drug syndicate believed to be operating between Malaysia and Indonesia.

He was also reportedly promised about RM50,000 (S$15,705) for the transportation of the drugs.

Investigations found that it was not the first time the man had been involved in drug smuggling activities.

He allegedly admitted to acting as a courier for the syndicate on three occasions, including delivering methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia and to Jakarta previously.

The Malaysian police said it is seeking CCTV footage at KL International Airport (KLIA) to determine if a drug syndicate had used flight crews and air route to carry out the operation, reported Malay Mail.

If convicted, the pilot may face the death penalty for drug trafficking.