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Malaysian pilot detained in Jakarta with 70,000 ecstasy pills
Mohd Saufi bin Othman, a 39‑year‑old Malaysian pilot for Malaysia Airlines, was arrested at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport in Jakarta between 28 July and 31 July 2026. Customs officers flagged his suitcase during X‑ray screening and found 14 large packages containing about 70,000 MDMA (ecstasy) pills weighing roughly 25‑26 kg, together with 4 g of methamphetamine.
The pilot told investigators he was paid 50,000 Malaysian ringgit to transport the drugs and that the shipment was part of a larger international network. A urine test showed he was under the influence of cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine at the time of the flight. Indonesian authorities have charged him under Narcotics Law No 35/2009, which carries a possible death penalty or life imprisonment, and are coordinating the investigation with Malaysian officials. The case follows earlier smuggling attempts by the pilot, including a meth run to Sabah and a 7‑kg shipment to Jakarta, and is being pursued as part of a broader drug‑trafficking syndicate.
Entities
Bareskrim Criminal Investigation Agency (Polri) · Bareskrim Police (National Police Criminal Investigation Agency) · Bareskrim Polri (Indonesian National Police Crime Investigation Agency) · Bareskrim Polri (Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Department) · Brigjen Eko Hadi Santoso · Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang · Indonesia · Indonesian Bareskrim (National Police Criminal Investigation Agency) · Indonesian Customs · Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) · Indonesian Narcotics Law No. 35/2009 · Indonesian National Police Bareskrim
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 20 SOURCES] He was promised a payment of 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (about US$12,200) for the smuggling. mix929.com · news.republika.co.id · daerah.sindonews.com · jack1065.com · economy.okezone.com · +8 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] Urine tests confirmed the pilot had methamphetamine and ecstasy in his system. dnaberita.com · mix929.com · news.republika.co.id · daerah.sindonews.com · jack1065.com · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The pilot claimed he had previously smuggled methamphetamine to Jakarta and sabu to Sabah. dnaberita.com · news.okezone.com · news.republika.co.id · daerah.sindonews.com · economy.okezone.com · +3 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] Customs officers detected the suspicious suitcase using X‑ray screening. daerah.sindonews.com · dnaberita.com · news.okezone.com · mix929.com · news.republika.co.id · +9 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Malaysian pilot Mohd Saufi bin Othman was arrested at Soekarno‑Hatta Airport in Jakarta. daerah.sindonews.com · dnaberita.com · news.okezone.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] He was handed over to Bareskrim Polri for investigation of an international drug‑trafficking network. dnaberita.com · news.okezone.com
- [● 18 SOURCES] The arrest took place on 28 July 2026 at about 23:30 local time in Terminal 3. daerah.sindonews.com · news.okezone.com · mix929.com · jack1065.com · dnaberita.com · +7 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] He was found carrying approximately 25 kg of ecstasy and a small amount of methamphetamine. daerah.sindonews.com · dnaberita.com · news.okezone.com · mix929.com · news.republika.co.id · +9 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Malaysian pilot Mohd Saufi bin Othman was arrested at Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on 28 July 2026. mix929.com · dnaberita.com · republika.co.id · news.harianjogja.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] He was promised a payment of 50 000 Malaysian ringgit (≈US$12 200) for carrying the drugs. mix929.com · dnaberita.com · republika.co.id · news.harianjogja.com · news.republika.co.id
- [● 5 SOURCES] Customs officers detected the suspicious suitcase using X‑ray screening at Terminal 3. republika.co.id · news.harianjogja.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] A small quantity of methamphetamine (approximately 4 g) was also recovered. www.liputan6.com · news.okezone.com · republika.co.id · news.harianjogja.com