Whale vomit worth Rs 1.58 crore seized, six arrested in Vadodara

Based on a tip-off about a car carrying ambergris likely to pass through the city’s Bill Atladara area, the LCB Zone 2 unit set up a watch and intercepted a hatchback car with a Vadodara registration number, recovering the contraband.

The accused have been identified as Vadodara-residents Surendrasinh Chavda (25), Gautam Vasava (22), Siddharth Tadvi (23), Surajsinh Kamboj (24), Raju Bharwad (23), and Narmada resident Deepak Rabari (26).

Providing details of the incident, Assistant Commissioner of Police, D Division, AV Katkad said, “The LCB team of Zone 2 were patrolling when they received information that a vehicle carrying ambergris was roaming in the Bil canal area”.

“We have learnt that they were carrying the contraband with the intention of illegal sale… We had called in the Forest Department and the FSL to the spot. The product has been seized and sent to the forensic laboratory. The person who brought the ambergris is yet to be arrested,” said Katkad.

Ambergris, also called whale vomit, is a wax-like product produced in the digestive tract of sperm whales and is believed to have a high medicinal value and is a sought-after ingredient in exotic perfumes.

The product is found in the seas in a stone-like form as it hardens over time after being ejected as an intestinal slurry by sperm whales.

The substance is prohibited in India as it is considered a byproduct of sperm whales, which are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.