Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Jun 6: In a major crackdown, South Goa Police recovered 5.75 kg of whale vomit, also known as ambergris, worth around Rs 10 cr from three individuals in Sanguem village, officials confirmed on Friday.
Based on a tip-off, police intercepted a car on Thursday and found the highly valuable, waxy substance often used in the international perfume industry.
Ambergris is a rare substance secreted in the intestines of sperm whales, which are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. Trade or possession of ambergris is strictly prohibited in India.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sainath Shet (50) and Ratnakant Karapurkar (55) from Goa, and Yogesh Redkar (40) from Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.
Police said efforts are on to trace the origin of the seized ambergris and uncover the larger network involved in its illegal trade.