Malaysian pilot arrested in Jakarta for smuggling 25 kg of MDMA

Malaysian pilot MDMA smuggling Soekarno‑Hatta 50,000 ringgit Indonesia drug case

Indonesian customs officials arrested a 39‑year‑old Malaysian pilot, identified as Mohd Saufi bin Othman, at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport on 28 July 2026. Using X‑ray screening, officers found a suitcase containing about 70,114 MDMA (ecstasy) pills weighing roughly 25 kg and a small packet of methamphetamine (≈4 g). The pilot was allegedly paid 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (around US$12,200) to transport the drugs and tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA in a urine analysis. Police say he had previously smuggled methamphetamine to Jakarta and sabu to Sabah on two earlier occasions. After the arrest he was handed over to the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) for investigation, with both Indonesian and Malaysian authorities involved. He faces narcotics charges that carry the death penalty or life imprisonment under Indonesia’s drug law.

The case was disclosed by customs officer Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang and by Bareskrim officials, who emphasized the need for inter‑agency cooperation to combat international drug‑trafficking networks.

Entities: Bareskrim Polri (Indonesian National Police Crime Investigation Agency) · Bareskrim Polri (Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Department) · Brigjen Eko Hadi Santoso · Indonesian Customs · Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) · Indonesian National Police Bareskrim · Indonesian National Police – Bareskrim · Malaysian authorities · Mohd Saufi Bin Othman · Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 20 SOURCES] He was promised a payment of 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (about US$12,200) for the smuggling. (customs office)
[● 20 SOURCES] Urine tests confirmed the pilot had methamphetamine and ecstasy in his system. (customs officer)
[● 13 SOURCES] The pilot claimed he had previously smuggled methamphetamine to Jakarta and sabu to Sabah. (pilot during interrogation)
[● 21 SOURCES] Customs officers detected the suspicious suitcase using X‑ray screening. (customs office)
[● 5 SOURCES] Malaysian pilot Mohd Saufi bin Othman was arrested at Soekarno‑Hatta Airport in Jakarta. (new)
[● 3 SOURCES] He was handed over to Bareskrim Polri for investigation of an international drug‑trafficking network. (new)
[● 18 SOURCES] The arrest took place on 28 July 2026 at about 23:30 local time in Terminal 3. (police report)
[● 21 SOURCES] He was found carrying approximately 25 kg of ecstasy and a small amount of methamphetamine. (customs officials)
[● 3 SOURCES] Malaysian pilot Mohd Saufi bin Othman was arrested at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on 28 July 2026. (supported)
[● 3 SOURCES] He was promised a payment of 50 000 Malaysian ringgit (≈US$12 200) for carrying the drugs. (supported)
[● 3 SOURCES] A small quantity of methamphetamine (approximately 2.7‑4 g) was also recovered. (supported)
[● 3 SOURCES] Customs officers detected the suspicious suitcase using X‑ray screening at Terminal 3. (supported)