According to local press, airport authorities believe the gold, with an estimated worth of 185,000 dollars, was left behind by someone who decided they could not smuggle it past customs.

Vietnam Airlines spokesman Trinh Ngoc Thanh said the jewelry had been found in four packages sitting on the co-pilot's seat after a flight from Hong Kong landed in Hanoi on February 11. The flight crew, including the Polish pilot, two Vietnamese co-pilots, and eight Vietnamese flight attendants, denied ownership of the jewelry.

"We will take strict action against anyone the police find guilty," Thanh said.

State-owned Vietnam Airlines has been involved in several recent smuggling scandals.

In December, a Vietnam Airlines co-pilot was arrested by Japanese police in Tokyo on suspicion of fencing stolen Japanese goods in Vietnam. The co-pilot admitted to receiving 100 dollars per flight to transport goods stolen by Vietnamese gangs in Japan.

Last May, a Vietnam Airlines flight attendant was arrested by Japanese airport police when he violated customs restrictions by entering the country with brand-name goods valued at more than 10,000 dollars.

Deutsche Presse Agentur - February 13, 2009