Vatva police seize ambergris worth ₹1.70 crore; one arrested, key accused on the run

The Vatva police have arrested a 27-year-old man and seized suspected ambergris, commonly known as whale vomit, weighing 1.718 kg and valued at ₹1.70 crore from near the Ropda Char Rasta on the S P Ring Road, officials said on Friday. One of the key accused, believed to have ferried the contraband from Bhavnagar, is absconding.

The arrested accused has been identified as Bharatbhai  Dhundhalwa (27), a labourer and resident of Bildi village in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district. Along with the ambergris, police seized an Infinix mobile phone worth ₹15,000, taking the total value of the seizure to ₹1.70 crore.

According to the police, the operation was carried out by the Vatva Surveillance Squad following a tip-off while the team was on patrol. Acting on specific intelligence, officers cordoned off the area near Ropda bridge and intercepted Dhundhalwa, who was allegedly waiting to deliver the contraband.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the prime accused, a Bhavnagar-based man identified as Bharat Bambhaniya, had travelled to Ahmedabad by car with the ambergris and dropped Dhundhalwa near the bridge to complete the transaction before fleeing the spot. Dhundhalwa was allegedly promised a commission of ₹20,000 for delivering the consignment, police said.

Senior officers said teams have been dispatched to Bhavnagar to trace and arrest the absconding accused. The seized material has been taken into custody for further examination, and the source and intended buyers of the ambergris are being probed.

Police said a detailed investigation has been initiated as trade, possession and sale of ambergris are offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.