Police have identified an airport employee in his 30s as a person of interest in investigations into how a Malaysia Airlines pilot allegedly passed through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) security with drugs in his luggage.
Federal Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Hussein Omar Khan said the employee was involved in airport screening and logistics operations, adding that investigators had not ruled out insider assistance.
“We are also looking into the possibility of insider involvement. This is still under investigation.
“So far, we have identified one person whom we will call in for questioning. If there is a need and evidence is obtained, we will take action,” he reportedly said at a press conference at the Selangor police contingent headquarters in Shah Alam today.
Hussein cautioned that the probe into possible insider involvement was still at an early stage.
The investigation comes as authorities move to strengthen baggage screening at KLIA, with narcotics detection set to become a greater priority following a high-level meeting involving the Transport Ministry, police, airport authorities, and other agencies yesterday.
Hussein said KLIA’s existing screening system had traditionally focused on firearms, explosives, and other aviation security threats.
“There is a need to further tighten or enhance the inspection procedures at KLIA.
“Previously, the priority was on firearms and other prohibited items. We have now agreed that drugs should also be included as a priority in security screening,” he said, according to New Straits Times.
The developments follow the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot in Indonesia on July 28 for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 70,000 ecstasy pills weighing about 25kg.
Indonesian authorities also found 2.74g of methamphetamine and 0.0825g of methamphetamine residue in a glass pipe when the suspect was arrested at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
How KLIA screening works
Hussein said investigators were scrutinising every stage of KLIA’s baggage screening process to determine how the alleged drugs escaped detection before the pilot boarded his flight.
He said the system involved multiple levels of screening, beginning with automated scans.
“If the system or security personnel identify a suspicious object, the baggage is channelled to the second and subsequent screening levels for further examination.
“If the first automated screening does not detect anything suspicious, the baggage is allowed to proceed through the system without undergoing further screening. That is the procedure at KLIA,” he said.
Hussein also confirmed that the pilot had undergone all required security checks, including first-level baggage screening.
“In this case, as stated by the Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) yesterday, he (the pilot) went through all the security screening procedures at KLIA, including the first-level screening.
“When the first screening did not detect anything suspicious, the baggage was allowed to proceed. That is the procedure at KLIA,” he said.
He added that aircrew and airport employees were also required to undergo security checks before entering restricted areas, including when using designated staff lanes.
Police are now seeking details from Indonesian authorities on how the drugs were detected upon the pilot’s arrival in Jakarta, Hussein said.
“We want to determine whether the drugs were detected through scanner detection, physical inspection, intelligence, random checks, or a combination of these methods,” he said.
He said airport screening systems generally complied with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, although operational approaches could differ between airports.
Among the proposals being considered is enhancing screening systems to automatically detect or generate alerts for suspected narcotics in baggage.
“The Transport Ministry is expected to hold a series of follow-up meetings to examine possible enhancements to KLIA’s security procedures and screening systems,” he said.
‘Counter-setting also under scrutiny’
The MCBA also did not rule out the possibility of “counter-setting activities” being linked to the case, although its director-general Shuhaily Zain declined to speculate on whether such activities were involved.
Shuhaily reportedly said investigators had yet to establish how the drugs ended up in the pilot’s possession, adding that MCBA would cooperate fully with police and would not shield anyone if wrongdoing involving border personnel was uncovered.
“Counter-setting” broadly refers to arrangements in which insiders at border checkpoints allegedly facilitate the passage of selected individuals without them undergoing normal procedures.
Previous Malaysiakini reports on counter-setting have largely concerned immigration clearance rather than baggage security.
In such cases, syndicates allegedly coordinate with enforcement personnel to direct selected travellers to designated counters, where their entry or departure is facilitated without the required checks.
Hussein said repeated attempts by drug syndicates to move narcotics through KLIA indicated that traffickers believed vulnerabilities existed that could be exploited.
“They keep trying because some attempts get through. If they try 10 times and two or three succeed, they will not stop.
“They exploit every available opportunity. They do not only use ordinary people; they also exploit professionals such as pilots,” he said.
Hussein said the amount of drugs seized in cases linked to KLIA had increased nearly six-fold in the first seven months of this year, with 1.35 tonnes worth RM108.35 million confiscated between January and July.
This compares with 235.36kg seized during the corresponding period last year.
The number of cases and arrests also doubled over the same period, with 108 cases recorded between January and July, compared with 54 last year.
A total of 121 people have been arrested so far this year, up from 57 during the corresponding period last year. - Mkini
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