2 arrested in Thane for smuggling ambergis worth Rs1Cr

The Property Cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch, on Friday, arrested two accused for allegedly smuggling ambergris, also known as whale vomit, worth ₹1Cr

The Property Cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch, on Friday, arrested two accused for allegedly smuggling ambergris, also known as whale vomit, worth ₹1Cr.

The Property Cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch, on Friday, arrested two accused for allegedly smuggling ambergris. Police acted on a tip-off and detained the two suspects. (HT FILE)

According to the officers, the accused were arrested on the basis of a tip off received earlier in the week, according to which some people were bringing a large quantity of ambergris near AP Shah College in Kasarvadavli.

“We laid a trap and detained two suspects. A search of their belongings revealed around 750g of ambergris,” police inspector Anil Honrao, Property Cell, said.

The accused, identified as Sushant Behra (32) and Manoj Sharma (40), were subsequently placed under arrest and charged under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The accused and the seized contraband were subsequently handed over to the Kasarvadavli police for further investigation.

“The accused have been remanded in our custody for five days. We are probing further to find out the source of the ambergris as well as who they intended to sell it to,” senior police inspector Rajesh Babshetty, Kasarvadavli police station, said.