Two Kerala natives have been arrested by Konkan Railway Police for smuggling whale vomit popularly known as ambergris. The Police have seized 5.694 kilograms of ambergris from the possession of the duo which is all worth a whopping Rs 5.06 Crore. The joint operation was carried out by Konkan Railway Police and Railway Security Force with assistance from Forest Department officials.
Police apprehended two persons namely Arun s/o Rajan age 30 yrs and Nibin Varghese, age 29 yrs, both n/o Kerala who had visited Margao Railway Station as per the description received in the information and seized from their possession sticky brownish colour substance properly packed in a carton suspected to be whale vomit (Ambergris). Ambergris is a sticky waxy substance produced in the digestive tract of the Sperm Whales which the whale vomits. The Whales are largely hunted for obtaining the Ambergris from its digestive tract. The Whales are protected species and hence the possession or trade of any of its by-products, is illegal under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The Whale vomit has huge demand in the market as the same is used for medicines and for making expensive perfumes. The Kilogram of Whale Vomit costs above Rs 1 crore. The Konkan Railway Police has seized 5,694 grms of whale vomit amounting to Rs 5,60,94,000/-(crores).
An offence under the relevant provisions under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been registered by Konkan Railway Police Station and both the above mentioned persons have been placed under arrest. Police Inspector, Shri. Sunil Gudlar of Konkan Railway Police Station is conducting further investigation to unearth the source of the seized Whale Vomit and to establish the persons involved in its trade, under the guidance of SP Konkan Railway Shri. Gurudas Gaude and Dy.SP, Konkan Railway Shri. Gurudas Kadam.