521kg of Drugs Found on Private Jet Did Not Originate from Malaysia – Police

KUALA LUMPUR: A private jet linked to an attempt to smuggle 521 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine into the Philippines is believed to have departed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang without any drugs on board before picking up the shipment in Laos.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that based on information from Lao authorities, the chartered aircraft departed Subang for Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos on Oct 1.

He said there were only three people on board the flight — a Singaporean pilot, a Malaysian co-pilot and a Filipino passenger.

“The drugs seized were intended for the Manila, Philippines market and not Malaysia. The aircraft is believed to have been used to transport the drug shipment from Laos to Manila,” he said in a statement here tonight.

Elaborating on the chronology of events based on information shared by Lao authorities, Hussein said the aircraft arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport at about 11.30am local time.

He said that at about 1.30pm, two vehicles arrived at the airport before several staff members helped transfer 23 bags from the vehicles to be loaded onto the aircraft.

“An inspection of all 23 bags uncovered 500 packages containing drugs suspected to be methamphetamine weighing 521kg,” he said.

Following the operation by Lao authorities, 13 individuals were arrested, including the three people who had flown on the aircraft from Subang.

Also arrested were 10 Lao nationals, comprising three employees of the airport’s ground handling company and seven staff members responsible for operating X-ray scanning machines.

All suspects are currently being detained to assist with further investigations by the authorities there.

Hussein said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had also launched a comprehensive investigation and would send NCID officers to Laos in the near future to record statements from the suspects.

“This is aimed at obtaining further information regarding the drug syndicate involved, particularly the possible involvement of syndicate members in Malaysia,” he said.

The latest statement clarifies that the aircraft is believed to have been carrying no drugs when it departed Subang, following earlier reports linking the flight from Malaysia to the discovery of drugs worth millions of ringgit in Laos.

BERNAMA