Three individuals from Surat’s Dindoli area were apprehended by the police for possessing 1.071 kilograms of ambergris, a rare substance derived from sperm whales’ intestines. Valued at Rs 1.07 crore, the contraband was discovered during a city raid.
The arrested men, identified as Ambrish Mishra (34), Sonu alias Bablu Upadhyay (40), and Sandeep Upadhyay (35), all originally from Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh, were found with the ambergris in a plastic bag. They had received the substance from two individuals near the Bharuch seashore three months ago.
DCP SOG Rajdipsinh Nakum revealed that the trio, including a Flipkart delivery person and two rickshaw drivers, were attempting to sell the ambergris in Surat. Despite having no criminal records, their illegal activities were reported, leading to their arrest.
Nakum emphasized that ambergris trade is illegal in India under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The accused have been transferred to the Gujarat Forest Department’s Dumas office for further inquiries.
