Mohd Saufi bin Othman, 39, was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on the evening of 29/7. His arrest came shortly after he piloted a flight from Kuala Lumpur that landed at the airport. Airport customs officials did not disclose the airline Othman worked for, but the flight number suggested it was a Malaysia Airlines aircraft.

"Urine tests revealed the individual was positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy, and cocaine. This means he was under the influence of stimulants while piloting the flight," stated Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, an official with the Airport Customs Agency, at a press conference in Jakarta today.

Pilot Mohd Saufi bin Othman during his arrest. *Kompass*

"What especially concerns all of us is this individual's profession. He arrived in Indonesia having just piloted a passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur," Hengky said.

Customs officials discovered 14 bags containing over 70,000 ecstasy pills in Othman's suitcase. They also seized 4 grams of methamphetamine from his carry-on luggage.

Hengky stated that the pilot seemingly believed he would avoid luggage inspection at the customs lane reserved for flight crew. However, he emphasized that all individuals entering Indonesia undergo the same surveillance procedures.

According to Awaludin Amin, an official from the Indonesian National Police's Drug Crime Investigation Bureau, Othman claimed this was his third time illegally transporting drugs into Indonesia.

Police suspect Othman is a member of an international drug trafficking network and have charged him under Indonesia's anti-drug laws. If convicted, Othman could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Indonesia has one of the strictest anti-drug laws globally. Currently, dozens of foreign nationals face the death penalty for drug-related charges in Indonesia, alongside hundreds of other inmates.

However, Indonesia has suspended death penalty executions for many years. The last execution in the country occurred in 2016, when an Indonesian citizen and three Nigerian citizens were executed by firing squad for drug-related offenses.

In March, two British citizens were sentenced to 9 and 11 years in prison, respectively, after being convicted of smuggling cocaine into the tourist island of Bali.

By Huyen Le (AFP, Kompass)