Police Say 2 Lion Air Officers Involved in Air Drug Trafficking

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police's Narcotics Crime Directorate managed to arrest seven people, including two Lion Air officers, on charges of trafficking illegal drugs via commercial passenger flights on the Medan-Jakarta route. The bust was first executed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on March 22, 2024.

Deputy Director of the Narcotics Crimes Directorate, Senior Commissioner Arie Ardian, explained that the police initially received information about a courier who was transporting drugs between provinces. “They had sent methamphetamine and ecstasy from Medan to Jakarta several times,” he said at Police Headquarters on Thursday, April 18.

After thorough investigations, the police managed to arrest MR at Terminal 2B of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta, and confiscated five kilograms of crystal meth and 1,841 ecstasy pills. The police discovered the involvement of two lavatory service officers of low-cost carrier, Lion Air.

“The two employees took the goods from outside and smuggled them into the airport area,” said Arie, adding that they evaded the airport inspection and handed the illicit drugs to MR, who would depart from Kualanamu Airport.

Following the arrest of MR, the police arrested seven people, including the two Lion Air employees, DA and RD. The police also added three others to the police wanted list. “We are tracing down Y, PR, and C,” he said.

Danang Mandala Prihantoro, a spokesperson for Lion Group, clarified that the two arrested employees were employees of a third-party ground handling service. “They are not Lion Air employees,” Danang said on Wednesday, April 18.

He emphasized that Lion Air strongly supports the eradication efforts of illegal drugs and the ongoing legal process.

IKHSAN RELIUBUN | JONIANSYAH

Editor's Choice: Microsoft to Invest Rp14 Trillion in Indonesia, Says Kominfo DG

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News