Thane: Rs 26 crore ‘whale vomit’ seized in 2 separate raids, five held

THANE: In two separate raids, the Thane forest division arrested five people from Mumbai for dealing in 27kg of ambergris, also known as whale vomit, worth Rs 26 crore.
Ambergris, a waxy substance discharged by the sperm whale, is found floating in deep seas and is used in manufacturing perfume and certain aphrodisiacs. The sperm whale is a protected species as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and keeping the ambergris or any other thing related to such endangered class is considered illegal, said forest officials.
Gajendra Hire, deputy conservator of forests, Thane, said the Mumbai range staff of the Thane forest division was recently tipped of about two deals of ambergris to be conducted at different locations in the western suburbs on July 8 and 10. “We sent decoy customers and trapped the sellers. In the first raid, four people were arrested with 8kg of ambergris, and in the second raid, one man was arrested with 19kg,” said Hire. All five accused have been remanded in forest department custody.