Kodagu: Gang with ‘whale vomit’ worth Rs 8 cr arrested

Mysuru: Four people of a gang were caught by police and forest department officials near Kushalnagar for possessing Ambergris, also called whale vomit.

Base on a tip-off, the mobile squad of the Forest Department in Mysuru intercepted a car reported to be carrying Ambergris.

Seeing the squad, the car tried to escape but was chased and apprehended.

8.25 kilograms of Ambergris worth Rs 8 crore, mobile phones and the car was seized from the four in the car.

One of them reportedly escaped.

According to the forest officials, Ambergris is a hard, wax-like substance in the digestive system of a sperm whale. It is used in the perfume industry and also has medicinal properties.

Officials said that the network might be connected to the one in Kerala.

Recently, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials had seized over 18 kg of Ambergris in Thrissur.