A detailed check revealed that gold bars were wrapped in newspapers and stuck behind the tissue box holder in the lavatory. (Representational Image)
The chief of crew of a SpiceJet flight from Dubai found one kg of gold hidden in the lavatory after the plane landed at Kochi Airport on Tuesday.
The customs authorities have "detained" a passenger, who is suspected to be a courier, in this connection, sources said.
Finding the behaviour of a passenger, who used the lavatory frequently during the flight, suspicious, the crew chief checked the lavatory, the sources said.
"A detailed check revealed that gold bars were wrapped in newspapers and stuck behind the tissue box holder in the lavatory," they said.
The gold was recovered from the SpiceJet's SG-18 Dubai-Kochi flight after it landed at the Kochi International Airport.
Sources said the matter has been reported to the customs officials and the gold bars have been handed over to them. During the flight, they said the crew heard noises of the compartment being opened and closed in the lavatory when the particular individual was inside.
According to the sources, the individual passenger's behaviour was suspicious, both during the journey and after landing at the airport.