Laos drug jet case on agenda at Malaysia-Philippines meeting in Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police will raise the seizure of 521kg of crystal methamphetamine from a private jet in Laos during a meeting with their Philippine counterparts in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, next week.

Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the meeting with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) had been arranged before the Oct 1 seizure at Luang Prabang International Airport.

He said the meeting was initially scheduled to discuss regional drug trafficking issues, but Malaysian authorities would now use the opportunity to exchange information on the syndicate believed to be behind the private jet case.

"The meeting had been scheduled before the private jet was detained in Laos.

"We plan to discuss the issue with our counterparts at this meeting," he told the New Straits Times.

Hussein said Malaysian police had already shared intelligence with Philippine authorities to help identify those behind the international drug trafficking operation.

"We have shared our intelligence with them. PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are working on identifying the syndicate there," he said.

The meeting comes as investigators continue efforts to establish the full extent of the trafficking network, which is believed to have links spanning Malaysia, Laos and the Philippines.

When asked whether NCID officers had received clearance from Lao authorities to travel there for follow-up investigations, Hussein said approval had yet to be granted.

He said Malaysian police were still awaiting clearance to conduct investigations in Laos following the arrest of a Malaysian second officer, or co-pilot, in connection with the seizure.

On Oct 1, Lao authorities seized crystal methamphetamine from a private jet at Luang Prabang International Airport and detained 13 people, including a Malaysian crew member.

Investigations revealed that the aircraft had earlier departed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for Laos without carrying any cargo.

The jet was believed to have been intended to transport the drugs from Laos to Manila in the Philippines.

Police had earlier disclosed that the charter flight was arranged by an individual believed to be from the Philippines for US$49,500 (about RM209,000).

The shipment was declared as "goods" for transportation from Laos to the Philippines.

Investigators believed the mastermind behind the trafficking operation was a Filipino.

He said intelligence had been shared with PDEA to help trace and apprehend the person.

Malaysian police have also investigated individuals and aviation companies linked to the aircraft.

On Oct 7, a police operation involving the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) and aviation security personnel was conducted at a hangar in Subang.

A 49-year-old Malaysian pilot who owned an aviation company linked to the jet involved in the Laos seizure was among those arrested.