KUALA LUMPUR: The 521 kilogrammes of methamphetamine seized from a private jet in Laos on Oct 1 did not originate from Malaysia, police said.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said information obtained from Laotian authorities indicated that the drugs were believed to have been smuggled from Laos to the Philippines.
He said the chartered aircraft had departed from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for Luang Prabang without carrying any cargo.
“The seized drugs were meant for the Manila market in the Philippines and not the Malaysian market,” he said in a statement.
Hussein said the aircraft initially carried three people from Subang — a Singaporean pilot, a Malaysian co-pilot and a Filipino passenger.
The aircraft arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport at about 11.30am local time on Oct 1.
According to information provided by Laotian authorities, two vehicles arrived at the airport area at about 1.30pm.
Several airport personnel then assisted in transferring 23 bags from the vehicles onto trolleys before they were loaded onto the aircraft.
An inspection of the bags uncovered 500 packages containing drugs suspected to be methamphetamine, with a total weight of 521kg.
Following the seizure, Laotian authorities arrested 13 people, including the three individuals who had travelled from Subang.
The 13 suspects also comprised 10 Laotian nationals, including three airport ground-handling staff and seven personnel responsible for operating X-ray scanning equipment.
All the suspects are currently in custody pending further investigation by the Laotian authorities.
Meanwhile, Hussein said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had launched a comprehensive investigation into the case.
NCID officers are expected to travel to Laos to record statements from the suspects and gather further information regarding the drug syndicate involved.
He said the investigation would also focus on determining whether members of the syndicate had any links or involvement in Malaysia.
The latest clarification follows earlier reports that raised questions over the possible involvement of Malaysia after the private aircraft was reported to have arrived in Laos from Subang.
Police have now stressed that the drugs were not transported from Malaysia and were instead believed to have been loaded onto the aircraft after it arrived in Laos.
Investigations by Malaysian and Laotian authorities are continuing to establish the full extent of the drug trafficking operation and identify those responsible.
-Bernama
