30-04-2025
Sperm whale vomit ‘Ambergris' worth Rs 2.9 crore seized in Ahmedabad; four arrested
With the arrest of four people, the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of the Ahmedabad City Police on Wednesday said it had seized 2.904 kg of Ambergris (sperm whale vomit) worth Rs 2.9 crore.
The Crime Branch received information that a man named Ameer Mansuri, who had arrived in Ahmedabad from Surat, was looking to find buyers for Ambergris. After locating and apprehending Mansuri, officials found photos and videos of the substance in his phone, officers said.
Further questioning led the investigators to a man called Usman Nainuddin Yunus Shaikh in Surat who allegedly had possession of the substance. A team was dispatched from Ahmedabad which apprehended Shaikh, found the Ambergris, and seized it, officers said.
Ambergris is formed in the digestive tract of sperm whales and is often found floating in the sea and rarely even spotted on beaches and coastlines. It is highly prized for its scent and is used illegally in the production of perfumes.
In total, the Crime Branch has arrested four persons, including Usman (26), Sahadat Ali (Babu) Shaukatali Rangrez (29), Mohammad Hanif Saeed Shaikh (21), and Mansuri (25). They were booked for violation of Schedule-II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Police inspector Dipak Dhola said that primarily, it appears that the accused had acquired the Ambergris from a person in Daman. Further investigation is underway.
