Four held with ₹8 crore worth of ambergris in Sarkhej, Zone-7 LCB busts illegal trade racket

The Zone-7 Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Ahmedabad Police on Friday arrested four men from the Sarkhej area after allegedly recovering 8.704 kg of ambergris (whale vomit) valued at ₹8.70 crore, along with a Maruti Swift car and six mobile phones, taking the total seizure to ₹8.76 crore.

Interception near Sarkhej-Makarba overbridge

Police Inspector Y P Jadeja and his team were patrolling the Zone-7 area when they received specific intelligence regarding illegal possession of ambergris.

Acting on the tip-off, the team intercepted a group of four men travelling in a Swift car near Satyadeep Heights, adjacent to the newly constructed overbridge on Sarkhej–Makarba Torrent Power Road.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of large and small pieces of ambergris, weighing a total of 8 kg 704 grams, along with six mobile phones and the car used in the transport.

The arrested accused

The following four individuals were taken into custody:

- Rinku Singh Rajput (21), resident of Memco, Naroda

- Shashank Pandey (29), resident of Hanspura, Naroda

- Ajex Shaishelkumar Vyas (23), resident of New Maninagar

- Jatin Nelsonbhai Patil (25), also resident of New Maninagar

Police said the ambergris was allegedly procured from a Surat-based man, identified as Bipin Solanki, who reportedly tasked the accused with finding potential buyers in Ahmedabad.

Ambergris: rare and high-value contraband

Police stated that ambergris — a waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales — is illegally traded globally due to its high commercial value. It is known to fetch up to ₹1 crore per kilogram in the black market.

It is widely used in the manufacture of luxury perfumes, traditional medicines and, in some cultures, is believed to enhance physical stamina.

Goods recovered by the police

- Ambergris (8.704 kg) worth ₹8.70 crore

- Maruti Swift car worth ₹6 lakh

- Six mobile phones worth ₹45,000

Total value of seized items: ₹8.76 Crore

DCP Shivam Verma, speaking about the operation, said that the swift action was the result of coordinated field intelligence and focused patrolling to curb illegal activities in the Zone-7 region. He added that the investigation will now focus on tracing the supply chain and other individuals involved.

A case has been registered and further investigation is under way to determine the source of the contraband and the network behind its distribution.