Mangaluru: Acting on a tip off, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mangaluru rushed to Mangaluru International Airport on Monday and found huge amount of gold hidden in one of the aircraft’s toilets.

It is said that it was an attempt to smuggle the gold of foreign origin into the country through the airport. The officials rummaged through Flight No. 9W 531, a Jet Airways flight which had arrived from Dubai.

After an extensive search, the gold was found in two black pouches cleverly concealed under the commode in one of the aircraft’s rear toilets.

It is said that gold ornaments comprising of necklaces, bracelets, eardrops, chains with pendants and so on were recovered whose gross weight was found to be 1,233 grams and at the current market price, the value was estimated at about Rs 29 lakh. The officials seized the gold under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the said aircraft was later scheduled to fly to Mumbai on its subsequent journey and there it was supposed to be retrieved by an agent of the smugglers having access to the airport. Further investigation in the matter along with look out for the smugglers behind the scene is underway.

This happens to be the first incident of organized gold smuggling attempted through Mangaluru International Airport after months of lull following demonetization.