Mint worker hid 22 golf ball-sized gold nuggets in his butt

A Canadian mint worker has been jailed for smuggling more than AUD$165,000 worth of gold in his rectum.

Leston Lawrence, a former employee at the Royal Canadian Mint, has been convicted of stealing 22 gold "pucks" and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Lawrence, 35, began stealing the gold in 2014 and squirreled out his stash over a three month period.

His unusual smuggling method was never fully proven, however Ontario Justice Peter Doody said there was substantial evidence  it had been concealed in his butt.

Each of the gold pieces was roughly the diameter of a golf ball.

Vaseline and latex gloves were found in Lawrence’s work locker.

He had set off metal detectors in the complex 28 times during the course of 41 days, but was never caught with gold.

Lawrence’s haul after the sting was 22 "cookie-sized pieces", 17 of which were sold to Ottawa Gold Buyers.

In addition to the prison sentence, Lawrence was fined AUD$190,000.