SHAH ALAM: Police have identified a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into a Malaysian pilot arrested with drugs at an Indonesian airport.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the individual, an airport employee involved in the security screening process, has been identified and will be questioned or arrested if necessary.
“Investigations have identified one person, and if the need arises, we will make the arrest. He is an airport staff member involved in the screening process,” Comm Hussein told a press conference at the Selangor police contingent headquarters here on Tuesday (Aug 4).
Explaining the security workflow at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Comm Hussein noted that all flight crew and pilots undergo the same security checks as regular passengers.
“The procedure at KLIA involves multiple levels of screening. If an item passes the automated first-level scanning systems, it does not proceed to the second level. However, if the initial scan detects anything suspicious, it is referred to the second and, if necessary, third levels of inspection.
“As explained during yesterday’s press conference at KLIA, the suspect went through all required screening procedures, including Level One. Because the initial scan did not detect anything suspicious, his baggage was allowed to proceed. That is the standard procedure at KLIA,” he said.
Detailing the pilot's movements on the day of his arrest, Comm Hussein revealed that the suspect had checked in his luggage early in the day before flying a domestic route to Kota Kinabalu and back, prior to taking his flight from Sepang to Jakarta.
On July 28, the 39-year-old Malaysian pilot was arrested at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after Indonesian authorities discovered 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine in his luggage.
