Eight Indian nationals have been arrested by Sri Lankan customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for attempting to leave the country with gold worth over Rs 4.5 million concealed in their rectal cavities and waist band.

The suspects, all males, had arrived at the airport to board Chennai-bound flight UL 125 at 12.55am today (25), customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

He stated that the suspect include a 58-year-old who was nabbed with 1 piece of gold, weighing 59g, concealed in his waist band, a 20-year-old with 1 gold chain without a loop, weighing 100g, concealed in his rectum, a 30-year-old with 2 pieces of gold, weighing 77g, concealed in rectum and a 32-year-old with 1 gold chain without a loop, weighing 100g, concealed in his rectum.

Another 29-year-old was found to be concealing a gold chain without a loop, weighing 100g, concealed in his rectum, a 40-year-old  with a gold piece and a chain, weighing 60g, concealed in his rectum, a 19-year-old youth with 2 parcels containing 4 pieces of gold, weighing 266g, concealed in his rectum and another 39-year-old man with 2 parcels containing 2 chains without loops, weighing 141g, concealed in his rectum.

The customs spokesman said that the total value of the gold has been estimated at Rs. 4,520,000.

Investigations are being carried out by Sri Lanka Customs.