Bhavnagar man caught with ₹1 cr ambergris, supplier on the run
Bhavnagar police have arrested a man with 1.10 kg of ambergris—also called whale vomit—worth an estimated ₹1 crore near Bagdana check post in Thadach village, as part of a growing crackdown on the illegal trade along Gujarat’s coastline.The accused, Pradip Gujariya, a resident of Timba area in Sartanpar, Talaja taluka, was apprehended following a tip-off received earlier this week by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palitana division. Acting swiftly, a police team laid a trap at the check post and arrested Gujariya in possession of the contraband, which is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.‘Paid a pittance’During interrogation, Gujariya claimed he had been paid just ₹5,000 to transport the ambergris by Mehul alias Chhotu Rameshbhai Bambhaniya, a resident of the same village. The forest department was informed, and the seized material was taken into custody. While Gujariya was arrested, Bambhaniya is still absconding.Police said Bambhaniya has been evading arrest for over a month. He was previously caught by the Bhavnagar Local Crime Branch in possession of 1.358 grams of ambergris and is already facing charges under wildlife protection laws.Investigators revealed that Gujariya cited financial distress as the reason for his involvement in the illegal trade. According to police, he disclosed that his daughter suffers from a heart condition and ongoing medical costs had placed immense pressure on the family. He told officers that Bambhaniya exploited this vulnerability by offering a quick payment for delivery of the contraband.Why is ambergris banned?Ambergris is a rare, waxy substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, which are protected under Schedule I of the Act. It forms when the whale's digestive system coats sharp objects (like squid beaks) in a protective fatty material. Rather than being actual whale vomit, ambergris is occasionally expelled through the whale’s faeces and floats in the ocean, where it hardens over time. Because it’s so rare and has a distinct musky smell, it can sell for tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram, and is used in luxury perfumes and traditional medicine. Even if ambergris is collected from the ocean and not taken from a killed whale, the law treats it as a wildlife product, and its trade is considered illegal. The trade incentivizes illegal hunting or exploitation of whales.Rising incidents along Bhavnagar coastBhavnagar district, with over 150 kilometers of coastline, has seen a surge in ambergris-related arrests over the past year. Authorities say the region has become a hotspot for smuggling, prompting an increase in surveillance and joint operations between police and forest officials.The investigation into Bambhaniya’s network is ongoing. Police have registered a case against him and others believed to be involved.Also read:Bhavnagar man arrested for attempting to sell whale vomit worth ₹1.16 crore
Bhavnagar police have arrested a man with 1.10 kg of ambergris—also called whale vomit—worth an estimated ₹1 crore near Bagdana check post in Thadach village, as part of a growing crackdown on the illegal trade along Gujarat’s coastline.
The accused, Pradip Gujariya, a resident of Timba area in Sartanpar, Talaja taluka, was apprehended following a tip-off received earlier this week by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palitana division. Acting swiftly, a police team laid a trap at the check post and arrested Gujariya in possession of the contraband, which is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
‘Paid a pittance’
During interrogation, Gujariya claimed he had been paid just ₹5,000 to transport the ambergris by Mehul alias Chhotu Rameshbhai Bambhaniya, a resident of the same village. The forest department was informed, and the seized material was taken into custody. While Gujariya was arrested, Bambhaniya is still absconding.
Police said Bambhaniya has been evading arrest for over a month. He was previously caught by the Bhavnagar Local Crime Branch in possession of 1.358 grams of ambergris and is already facing charges under wildlife protection laws.
Investigators revealed that Gujariya cited financial distress as the reason for his involvement in the illegal trade. According to police, he disclosed that his daughter suffers from a heart condition and ongoing medical costs had placed immense pressure on the family. He told officers that Bambhaniya exploited this vulnerability by offering a quick payment for delivery of the contraband.
Why is ambergris banned?
Ambergris is a rare, waxy substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, which are protected under Schedule I of the Act. It forms when the whale's digestive system coats sharp objects (like squid beaks) in a protective fatty material.
Rather than being actual whale vomit, ambergris is occasionally expelled through the whale’s faeces and floats in the ocean, where it hardens over time.
Because it’s so rare and has a distinct musky smell, it can sell for tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram, and is used in luxury perfumes and traditional medicine.
Even if ambergris is collected from the ocean and not taken from a killed whale, the law treats it as a wildlife product, and its trade is considered illegal. The trade incentivizes illegal hunting or exploitation of whales.
Rising incidents along Bhavnagar coast
Bhavnagar district, with over 150 kilometers of coastline, has seen a surge in ambergris-related arrests over the past year. Authorities say the region has become a hotspot for smuggling, prompting an increase in surveillance and joint operations between police and forest officials.
The investigation into Bambhaniya’s network is ongoing. Police have registered a case against him and others believed to be involved.
Also read:
Bhavnagar man arrested for attempting to sell whale vomit worth ₹1.16 crore
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