Ambergris worth ₹8 cr. seized from gang in Narasaraopet
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In a joint operation, officers of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Chennai, together with the native forest and police personnel arrested an eight-member gang which allegedly tried to promote Ambergris (vomit of a sperm whale), worth about ₹8 crore, at Narsaraopet in Guntur district on Sunday.
On a tip-off that the gang was making an attempt to promote ambergris – a strong waxy substance in gray, black or yellow produced in the intestines of sperm whales and used for manufacturing perfumes – the WCCB crew and the Guntur district forest and police officers laid a lure and arrested the accused, stated Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF-Wildlife) Rahul Pandey.
“It is a very rare operation. Ambergris is produced only by an estimated 1% of sperm whales. Chemically, ambergris contains alkaloids, acids and a specific compound called ambrein, which is similar to cholesterol. Ambergris floats on the surface of the water body and settles on the coast,” Mr. Pandey instructed The Puucho.
“Ambergris is used for making perfumes, especially to create fragrances like musk. It is believed to be in high demand in some places like Dubai. It is also used in some traditional medicines,” the CCF stated.
The WCCB and the forest officers fashioned a decoy celebration and trapped the gang. “We are trying to find out how and from where they got the ambergris,” he stated.
“One kg of ambergris is worth about ₹1 crore in the international market. Because of its high value it is referred to as floating gold. The WCCB officials seized 8.25 kg of ambergris from the gang,” Rahul Pandey stated.
A case has been registered underneath the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the accused, together with the seized materials, have been produced in the Narsaraopet court docket, which remanded them to judicial custody, the CCF added.
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