KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- CGT Asia Limited has confirmed that only one Philippine national was on board its aircraft when it departed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (WMSA), Subang, for Luang Prabang International Airport, Laos, on Oct 1, and that the passenger boarded without any carry-on luggage.
CGT Asia chief executive officer Captain Darren Chan Chee Seng said the Learjet 55B, registered as N73GP, departed Subang at about 11.30 am local time and arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport (VLLB) at about 1.30 pm.
He said the passenger was the sole passenger on the WMSA-VLLB sector.
“At the time of departure from WMSA, the passenger boarded the aircraft without presenting any carry-on baggage,” he said in a statement today.
Chan said the operating crew had been informed that the passenger intended to collect luggage containing vape products for the onward flight and that the passenger would personally handle the customs clearance process.
“However, the crew had not been informed that the luggage would consist of approximately 23 pieces, and this quantity was substantially greater than anticipated,” he said.
Upon arrival at VLLB, approximately 23 pieces of luggage were presented for the intended onward flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines, before the aircraft was scheduled to ferry back to Subang.
Chan said the operating crew was not involved in the customs clearance process but raised operational and safety concerns after becoming aware of the proposed baggage.
These included the unusually large quantity of baggage, the aircraft's baggage capacity, weight-and-balance considerations applicable to the Learjet 55B, and the possible presence of lithium batteries or other items potentially subject to dangerous goods requirements.
“The luggage was not accepted for carriage and was not loaded onto aircraft N73GP at Luang Prabang International Airport.
“The relevant Laos authorities subsequently inspected and/or took control of the luggage and advised that the baggage was suspected of containing a significant quantity of illicit drugs or controlled substances,” he said.
He said before receiving information from the Laos authorities, neither CGT Asia nor the operating crew had knowledge that the luggage allegedly contained illicit drugs or controlled substances, adding that the crew had already refused carriage of the baggage before becoming aware of its alleged contents.
“Following the intervention by the Laos authorities, the passenger and members of the operating crew were detained and/or required to remain available to the authorities in connection with their investigation,” Chan added.
CGT Asia said it would continue to cooperate with the authorities and provide any relevant documentation or clarification required.
On Oct 1, Laos police seized 521 kg of crystal methamphetamine from a private Learjet that had arrived from Subang.
Following the seizure, 13 individuals, including a Malaysian, Singaporean and Filipino, were detained by the Laotian authorities to assist investigations into the cross-border drug trafficking case.
-- BERNAMA