Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested a man on Wednesday with 2 kg of sperm whale vomit or ambergris. The value of the product is around Rs 2 crore in the international market. The arrest was made following information about the presence of the contraband at an open ground in Meghaninagar near Air Cargo Road.
The accused has been identified as Raju alias Rajesh Marwadi, 43, from Rajasthan’s Bikaner.
Mumbai-Based Supplier on the Run
Rajesh under interrogation disclosed that Ganesh Marwadi of Mumbai had provided the ambergris to Raju. Officials are now on the lookout for Ganesh so they can probe the network operating in the trade. Legal action has been taken against Raju for possession of this scarce material.
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Ambergris, also referred to as floating gold, is a waxy material secreted by sperm whales. It occurs when whales ingest indigestible items, then they pass them out in the form of ambergris. Its scarcity and utility in perfumery as a fixative in fragrances renders it extremely valuable.
Ambergris Value in the Global Market
Heavily prized in the perfume market, ambergris sells for as high as $40,000 a kilogram. Its profitability comes from its property of making scents last longer, and so demand is strong despite its scarceness.
It is also being probed as to who the target of the intended delivery was, who was authorized to pick it up, and how many similar deliveries of sperm whale vomit (ambergris) were attempted in the past.
