JINAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese suspects were caught when attempting to smuggle gold worth over 2.1 million yuan (about 303,400 U.S. dollars) out of China, customs in east China's Shandong Province said Tuesday.

Forty-two gold bars, weighing over 7.9 kilograms in total, were found hidden in the handles of the suspects' four suitcases after an X-ray scan by customs officers at Qingdao Liuting International Airport on Aug. 28.

The two suspects were taking a flight from Shandong's coastal city of Qingdao to Tokyo, Japan, using the "nothing to declare" lane in the airport's customs area.

A preliminary investigation showed both suspects were paid to smuggle the gold from China to Japan. The suspects denied they knew each other, according to customs.

The suspects have been put under coercive measures, which may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention or arrest.

Further investigation is underway.

Passengers carring over 50 grams of gold or items made of gold should declare to customs before entering or leaving China, according to China's customs regulations.