Private jet booking made by Filipino national, cops say on Laos drug seizure

A Filipino national, believed to be the mastermind of a drug smuggling syndicate, booked the private jet linked to the seizure of 521kg of methamphetamine in Laos on Sept 23 about a week before the incident.

Bukit Aman narcotics criminal investigation department director Hussein Omar Khan said the individual engaged the services of a private aviation company owned by four individuals – two Malaysian pilots and two Singaporeans – for a fee of US$49,500.

The booking was for a flight from Laos to Manila, Philippines, with the cargo declared as vape products.

“Information regarding the declaration of goods carried on the flight was obtained from the manifest secured in Subang, as well as from Laos authorities.

“We are investigating whether the company owner is involved in the syndicate or if the owner was also exploited by the syndicate,” he said.

Hussein said police were also gathering further details on the Filipino national believed to have made the booking as this information had been shared with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to assist in locating the individual.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the individual was using the company’s services for the first time. Hussein said the company was chosen because it offered the lowest price for that flight route.

He said the company had two entities registered in Cambodia and operated in Malaysia with two jets stationed in Subang.

He said the airline received approval to offer these services in July 2026 and had accepted nine flight bookings so far. The flight to Laos was the eighth.

“The company owner is a pilot with extensive experience across various airlines who has now established an airline to offer private commercial services,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters today.

Commenting on the arrest of a local man, the owner of the private airline and three other individuals at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang on Wednesday, he said all of them were released after giving their statements.

Police are awaiting approval and clearance from Laotian authorities to allow officials to be sent to the country for further information from the detained Malaysians.

It was reported on Oct 1 that Laotian police seized 521kg of crystal methamphetamine contained in 500 packages from a private Learjet that arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport from Subang.

The jet departed from Subang for Luang Prabang without any drugs on board as the methamphetamine, believed to be destined for Manila, was loaded onto the aircraft after its arrival in Laos.

Thirteen individuals including the pilot, co-pilot, Filipino passengers, as well as airport and ground service staff were detained by Laotian authorities to assist with the investigation.

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