Kuala lumpur: Three Malaysian women were detained at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on Monday in the latest drug-related case involving Malaysians abroad. Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police were informed by the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) about the arrest of the three women from Sabah, aged between 30 and 39.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, investigations revealed that two of the women had prior drug-related criminal records and were known drug users. The quantity of drugs seized by POLRI was small and believed to be for personal use. Hussein clarified that the arrest of these three women is unrelated to earlier cases involving the detention of a pilot and a 22-year-old man in Indonesia.

It was previously reported that officers at Terminal 2F of the airport thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs by the three female passengers, who had arrived on a flight from Kota Kinabalu. The illicit substances were detected hidden in their luggage and shoes.

Commenting on the drug-related arrests involving Malaysians abroad, Hussein noted that Malaysia's geographical position is a factor contributing to it being a transit route for international drug trafficking syndicates. Most of these syndicates originate from countries north of Malaysia, using it as a transit point to move drugs to Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and other countries.

To address this issue, Hussein stated that the existing standard operating procedures at the country's entry and exit points will be further tightened to ensure Malaysia is not continuously labeled as a drug transit nation. He affirmed that the Royal Malaysia Police maintain a firm stance against cross-border crimes, with the NCID having seized 89 tonnes of various drugs nationwide last year. Enforcement efforts have remained consistent this year, with nearly 46 tonnes of drugs seized in the first six months of 2026.