CHENNAI: A joint team of customs and Central Intelligence Unit (CIU) authorities seized 1,399 grams of gold worth Rs 1.02 crore smuggled to Coimbatore from Sharjah on Monday.

Based on a tip, the officials thoroughly checked the passengers of the Air Arabia flight from Sharjah and their belongings and found nothing. On suspicion, they searched the aircraft itself.

They discovered 12 gold bars weighing 1,399 grams in the inner side of the aircraft's panel near the leg side of a seat firmly pasted with double side adhesive tape.

No one claimed ownership of the gold bars, which were seized and further investigation is under way.