Ambergris Worth ₹2.2 Crore Seized in Gujarat’s Amreli, One Arrested

Amreli: The lucrative but illegal trade of ambergris, often referred to as “floating gold,” has once again surfaced in Gujarat. Acting on a tip-off, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Amreli police recovered 40 pieces of ambergris weighing 2.199 kg and valued at around ₹2.19 crore during a late-night operation near Varsada village.

The accused, identified as 24-year-old Ravi Bhaskar from Vankarvas in Bhavnagar district, was intercepted while travelling on a motorcycle. Police also seized his bike and mobile phone, bringing the total estimated value of confiscated items to nearly ₹2.20 crore.

During initial questioning, Bhaskar confessed he was headed to Bagasara in Amreli district to deliver the contraband to a contact. Authorities have registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and further investigations are ongoing to trace the wider network behind the smuggling.

This latest seizure comes only weeks after another major bust in the same district. On August 14, two men from Talaja, Bhavnagar, were caught in Amreli’s Centerpoint area with ambergris valued at ₹2.91 crore.

Police officials said the Amreli SOG is intensifying crackdowns in the region to disrupt the growing smuggling chain, as demand for ambergris used in perfumes and cosmetics in the global market continues to fuel illegal trade.