Ambergris worth ₹2 cr seized in Amreli

The illegal trade of ambergris commonly known as floating gold continues to surface in Gujarat, with Amreli district once again at the centre of a major bust. 

Acting on a precise tip-off, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Amreli police seized 40 pieces of ambergris weighing 2,199 grams, with an estimated market value of ₹2.19 crore, during a late-night operation near Varsada village.

This fresh seizure comes barely a month after a similar case was reported in the district. On August 14, two men from Talaja in Bhavnagar district were caught near Amreli’s Centerpoint area with ambergris worth ₹2.91 crore. 

According to police sources, the SOG team was conducting a routine patrol on Saturday night when they received intelligence about a suspected smuggler travelling on a bike towards Amreli. The team intercepted the suspect near the Varsada village bus stand, where a search of his belongings revealed 40 neatly packed ambergris chunks, weighing a total of 2.199 kilograms.

The accused has been identified as Ravi Bhaskar (24), a resident of Vankarvas in Bhavnagar district. Police seized the ambergris along with the suspect’s motorbike and mobile phone, taking the combined value of confiscated items to approximately ₹2.20 crore.

During preliminary interrogation, Bhaskar admitted that he was on his way to deliver the ambergris to a contact in Bagasara, another town in the Amreli region. 

The Amreli SOG has registered an offence under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify the intended recipient in Bagasara.