BENGALURU: An interstate gang of three was arrested for allegedly trying to sell ambergris — a waxy substance that originates in the digestive system of the protected sperm whales — on Lake Road in Mico Layout on Wednesday. Police seized 4.1kg of ambergris, estimated to be worth more than Rs 4 crore.
Among the arrested, Panneerselvam, 30, and Ananda Sekhara, 45, are from Tamil Nadu, while Manju K, 40, is from Mysuru. Police said ambergris has high value in the international market.
“Ambergris is produced in the gastrointestinal tract of sperm whales to ease the passage of hard and sharp objects swallowed by them. The sale of ambergris is prohibited in India as sperm whale was declared an endangered species in 1970 and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. It is used in manufacturing perfumes and other products,” police said.
Cops added that information that the trio would sell ambergris on Lake Road around 9am on Wednesday helped them nab the men. A team headed by inspector RS Choudhari rushed to the spot and detained the suspects, who have since revealed they were hired by a person in Coimbatore to transport ambergris to Bengaluru and sell it here. Police have registered a criminal case under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
