Amritsar, May 11 (IANS) Customs officials recovered 246 gold coins from the toilet of the Doha-Amritsar Qatar Airways flight which arrived here on Wednesday, officials said.
The unclaimed bullion is estimated to be worth Rs.57 lakh at current prices.
"We found two unclaimed packets hidden inside the rear toilet of the aircraft that came from Doha. Gold coins were found inside on opening the packets," Customs department Commissioner Sanjay Gahlot said.
Customs sources said the recovery was made following a tip off. They said the passenger carrying the gold coins could have left it in the toilet to avoid being detected at the airport.
The customs department has stepped up checking at the airport against smuggling of gold from Middle East countries.
Customs officials recovered gold coins worth Rs.10 lakh from a passenger coming from Dubai on a flight on March 17 while 10 gold biscuits worth over Rs.33 lakh were found from another passenger in February.
Officials found five kg of gold hidden in the toilet of another Qatar Airways flight in July last year.
In January 2014, five people were detained for possessing five kg of gold.
