UP: Whale vomit, a valuable perfume ingredient, worth 10 crores seized

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the state forest department have arrested four people and seized 10 crore worth of ambergris (whale vomit) , a solid waxy substance that comes from the whale’s intestines.

The substance is made when the sperm whale’s bile duct in its intestines leaks bile, and it is often found floating in the water or washing up on the shore.

What is ambergris?

Ambergris is found in the stomachs of sperm whales that have already died. Ambergris is often used as a fixative in the perfume industry. Its ability to “fix” a scent on the skin makes it very valuable.

Ambergris comes from the old French words “amber” and “gris,” which together mean “gray amber.” However, most people just call it “whale vomit.”

STF agents pretended to be customers and asked the alleged suspect to bring goods to their front door. In a statement, the STF said that Firoz Ahmad, Danish Akhtar, Avanish Kharwar, and Abhay Kharwar were arrested at Janeshwar Mishra park.

They were involved in smuggling ambergris, which is illegal under the Wildlife Act of 1972. The STF said that on the international market, 1 kg of ambergris costs Rs 2 crore. The accused was found to have 4.2 kg with them.

Vishal Vikram Singh, ASP, STF, said that when the suspect was being questioned, he said that a man named Tufael from Mumbai had asked Firoz from Pratapgarh to sell ambergris that he had found on the beach.

“Firoz asked his friends, like Danish Akhtar, Avanish Kharwar, and Abhay Kharwar, to help,” Singh said. On social media, Firoz put up an ad about the same thing with the code “High-end SUV.”

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) told the STF about this suspicious ad, so the STF knew about it.

Soon, social media influencers will have to follow new rules or face a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.

Most animals or animal skins sold online have code words like double engine, scooter, four-wheeler, pipe, aaloo (potato), pyaaz (onion), dhariwala chaddar, and chhota dhariwala chaddar.

An officer said that WCCB told them about the deal, along with the forest department, because the seller was from Pratapgarh.

“We set up a trap with the help of the STF. We pretended to be a Middle Eastern perfume company and asked them to bring a sample to Janeshwar Mishra park. One of the suspects, Danish, was held when he showed up with a small sample, “the DFO of Lucknow, Ravi Kumar Singh, said.

He was caught, and a call was made that the deal was done, so others with the consignment were asked to come for the deal and were also arrested.

Ambergris Smugglers Arrested in Lucknow

On Tuesday, ambergris worth Rs 10 crore was taken by the Special Task Force (STF) and the UP forest department.

STF detectives caught four con artists in Lucknow by pretending to be customers and asking them to deliver goods to their front door.

The STF said that Firoz Ahmad, Danish Akhtar, Awanish Kharwar, and Abhay Kharwar were the four people who were arrested. From Janeshwar Mishra park, they were arrested.

The Wildlife Act of 1972 says that it is illegal to smuggle ambergris, which is a solid waxy substance that comes from the intestines of whales. These four people were involved in this illegal smuggling. The STF said that on the international market, 1 kg of ambergris costs Rs 2 crore. The accused was found to have 4.2 kg in their hands.

Vishal Vikram Singh, ASP, STF, said that when the suspect was being questioned, he said that a man named Tufael from Mumbai had asked Firoz from Pratapgarh to sell ambergris that he had found on the beach.

“Firoz asked his friends, like Danish Akhtar, Awanish Kharwar, and Abhay Kharwar, to help,” Singh said.

Firoz posted an ad about the same thing on social media under the code name “High-end SUV.”

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) told STF about this suspicious ad, which is why STF knew about it. As most animals or their skins sold online have code words like “double engine,” “scooter,” “four-wheeler,” “pipe,” “aaloo,” “pyaz,” “dhariwala chaddar,” and “chhota dhariwala chaddar,” but they may not be the real products.

An officer said that WCCB told them about the deal, along with the forest department, because the seller was from Pratapgarh. “We set a trap with STF help. We pretended to be a Middle Eastern perfume company and asked them to meet us with a sample at Janeshwar Mishra park. “Danish, one of the suspects, came with a small sample and was detained,” said Lucknow DFO Ravi Kumar Singh. He was caught, and a call was made that the deal was done, so others with the consignment were asked to come for the deal and were also arrested.