Man Arrested for Smuggling Vomit of Whale Worth 2.6 Crore
A man from Mumbai has been arrested for smuggling whale’s vomit costing around 2.6 Crores, what makes it so expensive?
Ambergris is a substance produced by sperm whales. Ambergris is a waxy substance, but it is solid and inflammable. Produced in the intestines of the sperm whale. Ambergris is mainly used in perfumes, and sometimes for medicinal purposes. As per studies, ambergris makes the smell in the perfumes last longer and is obtained when sperm whales vomit or are forced to vomit.
According to reports, 1kg of ambergris is sold for around Rs 1 crore in the international market, the reason being that only sperm whales can produce this substance. However, the sale of ambergris is prohibited in India because sperm whales are endangered species, and are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1927. Sperm whales are said to be found mostly in the Arabian Sea off Gujarat, and the Bay of Bengal off Odisha.
Recently, The Mumbai crime branch on Wednesday 20th of July arrested a man for trying to smuggle this whale vomit worth ?2.6 crores. The Crime Branch seized 2.8kg of vomit, or ‘ambergris’. The accused was identified as Vaibhav Janardhan Kalekar. The Mumbai Police registered a case against Kalekar under seven different sections of the Wild Animal Protection Act. Moreover, this is not the first time that the Crime Branch has busted the smuggling of ambergris that costs even more than gold.
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