Eight Indians and a Sri Lankan were arrested this morning by the Sri Lankan Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle out more than Rs.4.5 million worth of gold to Chennai, Customs said.

Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said the contraband had been concealed in their rectums and waist bands.

The suspects were identified as follows: A 58-year-old man was caught with a gold biscuit weighing 59gm concealed in his waist band; a 20-year-old with a gold chain weighing 100g concealed in his rectum; a 30-year-old with two gold biscuits weighing 77gm concealed in his rectum; a 32-year-old with a gold chain weighing 100gm concealed in his rectum; a 29-year-old was caught with a gold chain weighing 100gm concealed in his rectum; a 40-year-old  with a gold biscuit and a chain, weighing 60gm, concealed in his rectum; a 19-year-old youth with four gold biscuits weighing 266gm concealed in his rectum; a 39-year-old man with two chains weighing 141gm concealed in his rectum and a Sri Lankan with three slabs of gold weighing 300gm worth Rs.1,500,000. He had concealed the gold slabs underneath his right foot. (Chaturanga Pradeep)