Army headquarters yesterday said that US-made A-5 paintball guns recovered by the 58 Division over the weekend from an LTTE base in the Vishvamadu area would have been smuggled in several years ago. A senior army spokesperson said that the nine guns widely used for hunting and riot-controlling purposes were powered by CO 2, compressed air and nitrogen with their gas cylinder fitted separately to trigger fifteen balls (made of rubber or plastic) per second. "They are effective only as long as the cylinder holds gas. In the US, a gun of this type costs about 200 US$. Misuse of this weapon could cause serious injuries or even death, the official said.