Gold Bars Worth $1 Million Found in Aircraft Toilet

India, which rivals China as the world's biggest gold consumer, has witnessed a spike in smuggling after import duties were hiked three times this year to try to dampen demand for the precious metal.

The Jet Airways flight had landed in Kolkata and was being cleaned before a scheduled flight to Patna when the cleaners found two bags with the gold stashed inside. It had previously been flying on international routes.

"The cleaning staff of the airport were going though their routine duties and found two bags in the toilets of the plane," director of the airport B.P. Mishra told AFP.

The gold bars "have not been claimed by anyone. No arrest has been made as yet".

Customs official Mona Priyadarshini said the gold bars weighed around 1 kilogram each. Customs officials confiscated the stash and are investigating. Senior customs official R.S. Meena estimated the value of the haul at about 70 million rupees, or $1.1 million.