Pilot arrested with drugs in Indonesia had cleared checks at KLIA: Malaysia border control agency

A Malaysian pilot apprehended with drugs at an Indonesian airport had successfully cleared all security screenings at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), according to the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).

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In the required screening that was conducted as per usual with our scanner machine, there had been no suspicious images that had shown up when the bag was screened.

Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, AKPS director-general, stated that pre-flight checks on July 28 showed no anomalies on the scanner. "In the required screening that was conducted as per usual with our scanner machine, there had been no suspicious images that had shown up when the bag was screened," he explained. The pilot's luggage passed through standard procedures without triggering secondary screening due to its risk classification.

Shuhaily elaborated that the screening system integrates artificial intelligence with human judgment, where AI assigns a preliminary risk level. However, he emphasized that the final decision rests with the screening officer. He suggested the drugs might have been hidden in a manner undetectable by the scanner. The AKPS is working with Indonesian authorities and the police's Narcotics Crime Investigation Department to understand the concealment method and enhance security measures.

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AI assists the process, but the final decision rests with the screening officer.

Addressing concerns about potential internal misconduct, Shuhaily assured that integrity issues would be thoroughly investigated. "If the police see there is foul play involved from my officers then there will be no stones left unturned," he stated. A joint meeting involving airport stakeholders and authorities has been convened to discuss and implement improvements to existing protocols following this incident.

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If the police see there is foul play involved from my officers then there will be no stones left unturned.