Four Smugglers Arrested With Whale Vomit Worth Rs 10 Crore In Uttar Pradesh

The arrests were made in a join operation between UPSTF and forest officials and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi, had given a tip-off about the illegal sale of Ambergris.

Officials also informed that the arrests took place at two locations in Lucknow. (Image: Twitter/@UPPSTF)

Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) has arrested four members of a gang involved in smuggling of 'Ambergeris', a banned substance under Wildlife Protection Act. According to reports, the smugglers were nabbed from Police Station Gomtinagar Extension Area in Lucknow with around 4.120 kg Ambergeris worth around Rs 10 crores in international market. 

"Trade of ambergris is prohibited in India because sperm whales produce Ambergris, and sperm whales, an endangered species, are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1927," divisional forest officer, Ravi K Singh said during a press statement earlier. 

#UPSTF
के द्वारा दिनांक 05.09.2022 को अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर वन्य जीव संरक्षण अधिनियम के अंतर्गत प्रतिबंधित अमबरगेरिस की तस्करी करने वाले गिरोह के 4 सदस्यो को रू0 10 करोड़ की 4.120 कि0ग्रा0 अमबरगेरिस सहित थाना गोमतीनगर विस्तार क्षेत्र, लखनऊ से गिरफ्तार किया गया।@uppolice pic.twitter.com/tarKLQDpBd

— UPSTF (@uppstf) September 6, 2022

The arrests were made in a join operation between UPSTF and forest officials and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi, had given a tip-off about the illegal sale of Ambergris.

Officials also informed that the arrests took place at two locations in Lucknow and Ambergeris were recovered from both the places.

Three including Firoz Ahmad Kidwai, Danish Akhtar and Avinash Kharwar were arrested from Janeshwar Mishra Park area, whereas the fourth accused identified as Abhay Kharwar was arrested from Surendra Nagar. 

"In coordination with the STF, we laid a trap and posed as a perfumes manufacturer based in the middle east but asked them to meet us with a sample at Janeshwar Mishra park. One of the accused, Danish, came with a small sample and was held," said Singh.

He was arrested and a call was made that the deal was done so others with the consignment were asked to come for the deal and were arrested. The joint operation was conducted on Sunday night, officials informed.

Ambergris is often described as one of the world's strangest natural occurrences produced by sperm whales. It is also being said that only 1 per cent of sperm whales produce ambergris. Singh also said that it is illegally used in making perfumes. 

STF sleuths posed as customers and requested the alleged accused to deliver goods at their doorstep, news agency IANS reported. The STF also informed that the cost of 1 kg ambergris is Rs 2 crore in the international market. The accused were found to be in possession of 4.2 kg.

"During interrogation the accused revealed that one Tufael, a resident of Mumbai, had asked Firoz of Pratapgarh to sell ambergris which he had found on the shore," IANS quoted ASP, STF, Vishal Vikram Singh as saying.

"Firoz roped in his friends which include Danish Akhtar, Avanish Kharwar and Abhay Kharwar," said Singh. Firoz gave an advertisement about the same online, with the code 'High-end SUV', on social media.

Code words such as double engine, scooter, four-wheeler, pipe, aaloo (potato), pyaaz (onion), dhariwala chaddar and chhota dhariwala chaddar are typically used for animals or their skin sold online.