Pilot drug case: Police to be stationed alongside AVSEC at airports
Fahmi Fadzil says the Cabinet was told several aviation security improvements must be carried out immediately.
PUTRAJAYA – Several aviation security improvements must be implemented immediately, including stationing Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel alongside the Aviation Security (AVSEC) team at airports.
The move follows the arrest of a Malaysian co-pilot in Indonesia last week over suspected drug smuggling.
Unity Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the matter was raised by the Home Ministry (KDN) and the Transport Ministry (MOT) at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"On the arrest of the MAS (Malaysia Airlines) pilot or co-pilot in Jakarta, the Cabinet was informed by KDN and MOT that several improvement measures need to be implemented immediately.
"First, involving aviation security, where PDRM personnel need to be stationed because at present it is being managed by auxiliary police," he told a post-Cabinet press conference here today. (Quote translated from Malay.)
Kosmo! earlier reported that a 39-year-old co-pilot was detained at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, after Indonesian Customs and Excise officers detected suspicious objects in his baggage during an X-ray scan at the international arrival hall.
Further inspection uncovered 14 large packages containing 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing 25.19kg, as well as a packet of syabu weighing 2.75g and 0.08g of syabu residue in a glass pipe.
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