Man held with 2 kg of ambergris worth ₹2 crore in Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a 43-year-old man in possession of 2 kilograms of ambergris, commonly known as sperm whale vomit, a banned marine substance with high demand in the international black market. The seized quantity is estimated to be worth ₹2 crore.Acting on a specific tip-off, Crime Branch officials conducted a raid on an open ground near Airport road in Meghaninagar and apprehended the accused, identified as Raju alias Rajesh Punamchand Marwadi, a resident of Kalapinagar in Ahmedabad. Originally from Bikaner, Rajasthan, Marwadi was allegedly attempting to sell the contraband when he was intercepted.Ambergris, a waxy substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, is prized in the perfume industry for its fixative properties, though its trade is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act in India, as sperm whales are a protected species.The police have also identified another individual, Ganesh Bachhraj Marwadi, a resident of Grant Road in Mumbai, as the supplier of the ambergris. He has not yet been arrested, and efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts.According to officials, the 2 kg of ambergris was seized during the raid and has been sent for forensic analysis. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.D B Patel, Inspector of Crime Branch, said, “The possession and sale of ambergris is illegal in India. We are investigating the supply chain and suspect the involvement of an interstate smuggling network.”Ambergris smuggling has seen a spike in recent years, with traffickers exploiting its high market value abroad despite stringent wildlife protection laws in place. The investigation, in this case, is ongoing.
The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a 43-year-old man in possession of 2 kilograms of ambergris, commonly known as sperm whale vomit, a banned marine substance with high demand in the international black market. The seized quantity is estimated to be worth ₹2 crore.
Acting on a specific tip-off, Crime Branch officials conducted a raid on an open ground near Airport road in Meghaninagar and apprehended the accused, identified as Raju alias Rajesh Punamchand Marwadi, a resident of Kalapinagar in Ahmedabad. Originally from Bikaner, Rajasthan, Marwadi was allegedly attempting to sell the contraband when he was intercepted.
Ambergris, a waxy substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, is prized in the perfume industry for its fixative properties, though its trade is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act in India, as sperm whales are a protected species.
The police have also identified another individual, Ganesh Bachhraj Marwadi, a resident of Grant Road in Mumbai, as the supplier of the ambergris. He has not yet been arrested, and efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts.
According to officials, the 2 kg of ambergris was seized during the raid and has been sent for forensic analysis. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
D B Patel, Inspector of Crime Branch, said, “The possession and sale of ambergris is illegal in India. We are investigating the supply chain and suspect the involvement of an interstate smuggling network.”
Ambergris smuggling has seen a spike in recent years, with traffickers exploiting its high market value abroad despite stringent wildlife protection laws in place. The investigation, in this case, is ongoing.
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