Laos seizes 521kg of crystal meth from private jet arriving from Malaysia

Thirteen people were detained in connection with the seizure, including the pilot and co-pilot. — Reuters pic

First Published: Tuesday, 06 Oct 2026 3:21 PM MYT

PHNOM PENH, Oct 6 — Lao police have seized 521 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine from a private jet reported to have arrived from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport, with 13 people detained in connection with the case.

The Vientiane Times, citing Lao Security Newspaper, reported on Tuesday that a security operation took place on October 1 following a tip-off received by provincial police on September 21 that a drug trafficking syndicate was allegedly planning to smuggle narcotics across borders by air using a private aircraft.

According to the report, police later learned that the flight schedule had been changed, with the private aircraft due to arrive from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport at 1.30pm on October 1.

Provincial public security authorities then instructed specialised units to monitor the situation.

Officers subsequently found 23 suitcases and seized 500 packs of crystal methamphetamine weighing 521 kilogrammes, along with the Learjet private aircraft and a pickup truck as evidence, according to the report.

“Twenty-one of the 23 suitcases contained white crystalline substances that were identified as crystal methamphetamine,” the report said.

Police detained 13 people during the operation, including the pilot, co-pilot, a foreign tourist, three employees of a company and seven employees of Luang Prabang International Airport. Three of those detained were women.

The seized aircraft was identified as a Learjet with flight registration N73GP. — Bernama