KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysia Police will send a team of investigators and intelligence officers from Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) to Jakarta, Indonesia next week to gather more information related to the syndicate network believed to be involved in a drug smuggling case involving a Malaysian pilot.
Bukit Aman NICD director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the team will be in Jakarta from Aug 11 to 15 to assist in completing the investigation, including identifying the source of drug supplies, smuggling methods, and the possibility of the suspects' connections with syndicates in Indonesia.
ALSO READ: Another Malaysian nabbed trying to smuggle drugs into Indonesia
"The police will look at the overall aspect of this drug distribution network. This means from where he got this supply, which syndicate, how he managed to pass the security screening at the departure gates of the KL International Airport (KLIA), and what the connection is with the syndicate in Indonesia," he told Bernama after being a guest on Bernama Radio's Waspada programme here Wednesday (Aug 5).
He said the investigation is important to identify the entire distribution chain, including the possibility of involvement of other parties.
Commenting on the position of the suspect, who is now facing legal proceedings in Indonesia, Hussein said no extradition request will be made, and the pilot must undergo legal proceedings in that country.
ALSO READ: Indonesian authorities release CCTV footage of M'sian pilot attempting to smuggle drugs
"There is no (extradition)... we can stay informed and the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) will share updates on the case. But he has to go through the legal process in that country," he said.
Previously, the media reported that a 39-year-old pilot was detained by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after being accused of attempting to smuggle 25kg of drugs.
According to the POLRI, the inspection found 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy and methamphetamine capsules, estimated to be worth RM45mil based on the Indonesian market price.
In a related development, Comm Hussein said the police recorded statements from two members of the KLIA Aviation Security (Avsec) two days ago to assist in the investigation.
ALSO READ: Tighter security at airports, more screenings of pilots after Indonesia trafficking case, says Fahmi
However, he said no arrests have been made so far and that the police found that both involved officers had no direct connection with the suspect.
Meanwhile, regarding the recent detention of another Malaysian man, aged 22, at the Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, Hussein said the police are still investigating the possibility of a connection between the two cases.
He also said that the investigation into the case in Surabaya was quite challenging because the syndicate was believed to be using third-party information for phone number registration and communicating through social media to make detection difficult.
The media previously reported that Indonesian authorities detained a man from Johor after he was found to be carrying four packages containing approximately 1kg of methamphetamine and four packages containing more than 1,000 ecstasy pills strapped to his body. - Bernama
