A 22-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested at Indonesia’s Juanda International Airport in Surabaya after authorities allegedly discovered nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine and more than 1,000 ecstasy pills strapped to his body.
The arrest comes shortly after another high-profile case involving a Malaysian airline pilot who was detained in Indonesia over alleged drug trafficking.
According to Indonesian media reports, the suspect had arrived on a Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur when customs officers intercepted him during an inspection at Terminal 2.
Drugs Allegedly Strapped to His Body
Investigators said the suspect allegedly attempted to smuggle the drugs by tightly wrapping four packages of methamphetamine around his body in an effort to avoid detection.
Authorities reportedly seized around 990 grams of methamphetamine, along with more than 1,000 ecstasy pills.
The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated at 2.79 billion Indonesian rupiah, equivalent to more than RM630,000.
Suspect Allegedly Became Drug Mule Due to Debt
During questioning, the 22-year-old reportedly admitted he had agreed to act as a drug courier because he was burdened by debt.
Malaysia’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director confirmed that the suspect is a Johor native and said Malaysian police have been informed by their Indonesian counterparts.
An investigation has also been launched in Malaysia to determine whether the suspect has links to a larger drug trafficking syndicate.
Indonesian Police Investigating International Drug Network
The suspect has been handed over to police in Surabaya for further investigations.
Authorities are now focusing on identifying the international syndicate believed to be behind the smuggling operation and whether more individuals were involved in transporting drugs between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The case adds to growing concerns over cross-border drug trafficking in the region, with Indonesian authorities continuing to enforce strict anti-drug laws against both local and foreign offenders.