Police stated on Friday that two individuals were arrested carrying ambergris or whale vomit worth Rs 1.6 crore in Dombivili, Maharashtra's Thane district, news agency PTI reported.
An official stated that based on a tip, police set up a trap outside a hotel in town late Wednesday night and apprehended the accused, who arrived with a bag.
He stated that 0.750 gm of ambergris was confiscated from the accused, Nandu Kisandev Rai (28) and Arjun Harishchandra Nirmal (26).
According to the official, the apprehended suspects have revealed the identity of one additional individual involved in the smuggling of the prohibited material.
Ambergris, which is produced by the bile duct of the sperm whale, is sometimes referred to as "floating gold" due to the high price it commands in international markets for usage in luxury fragrances.
The couple has been charged with an offence under relevant provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, and an investigation is ongoing, according to the official.
ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: What Is Ambergris Or Whale Vomit? Why It Is Called 'Floating Gold' That Is So Valuable
What Is Ambergris Or Whale Vomit?
Ambergris is produced by sperm whales and is often described as one of the strangest natural occurrences in the world. It is a waxy, solid and inflammable substance produced in the intestines of the sperm whale, and is used in perfumes and medicines.
Though ambergris, or whale vomit, has been used for centuries, its origin remained a mystery for many years.
Ambergris is formed when whales produce a fatty, cholesterol-rich substance, which acts as a defence and coats or surrounds the indigestible parts of the sperm whale’s prey, such as beaks and pens of squid and cuttlefish, according to Ambergris Connect, a UK firm that claims to connect buyers and sellers of genuine ambergris.
The waxy substance allows the beaks to pass through the whale’s four stomachs without causing much damage to the intestinal walls, before expelling into the sea.
(With Inputs From PTI)