In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, the Ahmedabad rural police have made a major seizure of a banned substance derived from whales. The authorities arrested a 42-year-old man from Surat and confiscated ambergris worth crores of rupees.
Tip-Off Leads to Major Interception
The operation was set in motion based on specific intelligence gathered by Head Constable Kalpesh Gagji during his routine patrol duty. Acting swiftly on this tip-off, a police team under the leadership of Inspector H N Baria moved to intercept the suspect.
The police team successfully stopped the accused near Shriji Hospital on the busy Hathijan-Mehmedabad road. Upon search, they found a suspicious waxy substance in his possession, which they suspected to be ambergris.
Failed to Provide Legal Documents
The detained individual was identified as Rajesh Balar, a resident of Surat who operates a yarn manufacturing unit in the Kadodara area. When questioned by the police, Balar could not produce any valid permits or documents to justify his possession of the substance.
This failure to provide legal authorization immediately raised red flags and strengthened the case against him. Along with the ambergris, the police also seized his mobile phone and the four-wheeler he was using, bringing the total estimated value of the confiscated items to approximately Rs 3.06 crore.
Forensic Confirmation and Legal Action
To authenticate the seized material, experts from the forest department and forensic professionals were summoned to the scene. They conducted a preliminary examination of the substance.
The examination conclusively confirmed that the seized material was indeed ambergris, a natural waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Highly prized in the international perfume and cosmetics industry for its fragrance-fixing properties, its trade is strictly regulated under Indian law.
Following this confirmation, the Vivekanandnagar police formally registered a case against Rajesh Balar. The offence has been booked under the stringent provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits the possession and trade of such protected wildlife derivatives without explicit permission.
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in Gujarat to curb the illegal wildlife trade, which often operates through sophisticated networks. The police are now investigating the source of the ambergris and its intended destination to uncover possible links to a larger smuggling ring.
