Ahmedabad Rural Police nab two with ₹3 crore worth of whale vomit

Incidents of ambergris smuggling, commonly known as whale vomit, continue to surface in Gujarat. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Ahmedabad Rural Police has seized 2.97 kg of ambergris worth around ₹3 crore and arrested two men near Gibpura village on the Sarkhej–Sanand Highway.

According to officials, acting on a tip-off, the police apprehended Yogesh Makwana (30), a resident of Bhavnagar, and Pintu Patel (37), a resident of Ahmedabad, while they were looking for buyers to sell the consignment. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had procured the ambergris from Bharatbhai Vallabhbhai Sarvaiya of Bhavnagar.

What is whale vomit?

Despite being commonly referred to as ‘whale vomit’, the substance is actually ambergris, derived from the French term gris ambre (grey amber). It is a wax-like substance formed in the digestive system of sperm whales, a protected species. Because it is expelled from the whale’s digestive tract, it is often mistaken for vomit. Scientists are still not entirely certain about its formation, but one theory suggests that it develops when sperm whales ingest large quantities of marine creatures with hard, indigestible parts, which are then coated and solidified inside the intestines.

Why is it so expensive?

Ambergris is highly prized in the perfume industry for its unique properties as a fixative, making fragrances last longer. Its rarity further adds to its high value, often fetching crores in the illegal market.

In India, the sale and trade of ambergris is strictly banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as sperm whales—the source of ambergris—are classified as an endangered species.