Ahmedabad, July 1 (IANS) Three men were arrested in Ahmedabad’s Sarkhej area with 1.823 kg of ambergris, commonly known as whale vomit, valued at more than Rs 1.82 crore, in a crackdown by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-7 ahead of the annual Rath Yatra.

The operation was carried out after the city police intensified surveillance on the illegal trade, storage and transportation of derivatives of protected wildlife species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Acting on specific intelligence received during patrolling, an LCB Zone-7 team led by Police Sub-Inspector H.D. Vaghela intercepted three men near Sanathal Bridge on S.P. Ring Road in the Sarkhej area.

Police recovered 1.823 kg of ambergris, estimated to be worth Rs 1,82,30,000, along with a mobile phone valued at Rs 5,000. The total value of the seized property was put at Rs 1,82,35,000.

The arrested men were identified as Vishwarajsinh Chudasama, 27, a resident of Limbdi in Surendranagar district; Darshan Sabhad, 24, also from Limbdi; and Veerpalsinh Rathod, 25, a resident of Changodar in Ahmedabad district.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7) Shivam Verma said the arrests were made as part of a targeted action plan against illegal activities.

“Under the guidance of Ahmedabad City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik, an action plan was prepared to curb illegal activities. As part of this plan, LCB Zone-7 received information that three persons were moving around in the Sarkhej Police Station area to sell ambergris. Since the possession and sale of ambergris are illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, a raid was organised and all three were apprehended,” Verma said.

He said the seized material weighed 1.823 kg and had an estimated market value of over Rs one crore.

According to the preliminary investigation, the accused told police they had obtained the ambergris from a man identified as Hasmukh Patel in Morbi.

Verma said the material had allegedly been handed over to them to find a buyer rather than being sold to them outright. “They had brought it from Hasmukh Patel in Morbi and were searching for a buyer in Ahmedabad. During this process, the LCB apprehended them,” he said.

Police said ambergris is a rare substance that forms in the digestive system of sperm whales and has historically been used in the perfume industry as a fixative to help fragrances last longer.

Its high value has made it a target for illegal trade, while its possession and sale are prohibited under Indian wildlife laws. Verma said none of the three accused had any previous criminal record.

“Darshan is a third-year BA student, Vishwarajsinh is pursuing the second year of an LLB course, while Veerpalsinh, who has studied B.Com, runs a paan shop in Changodar where Darshan works,” he added.

Explaining how the trio came into contact, Verma said: “Darshan and Vishwarajsinh were acquainted as they lived in the Limbdi area, while a labourer working on Darshan’s farm allegedly introduced them to Hasmukh Patel, leading to their involvement in the case.”

Police have initiated legal proceedings against the three accused and are continuing the investigation to identify others linked to the alleged wildlife trafficking network.

–IANS

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