{
  "id": 11456904,
  "title": "Banned in India, Ambergris worth Rs 4.35 cr seized in Ahmedabad, 2 held",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/banned-in-india-ambergris-worth-rs-4-35-cr-seized-in-ahmedabad-2-held",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T14:18:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/banned-in-india-ambergris-worth-rs-4-35-cr-seized-in-ahmedabad-2-held-10904227/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, the Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell seized an estimated Rs 4.35 crore worth of Ambergris, a prohibited substance, and arrested two individuals in Ahmedabad. Ambergris, the sperm whale's vomit, is highly coveted for its scent and is used illicitly in perfume production. It is banned in India due to sperm whales being listed as a schedule 1 species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). On Thursday, Sub-Inspector V K Rathod and his team searched the Akruti Arcade Complex parking area in Bavla, Ahmedabad, on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad Highway. They discovered two men, Ajay Ashok Chavda from Khambhat, Anand, and Hitesh Dashrath Chauhan from Dholka, Ahmedabad, in possession of pieces of ambergris. These hard, solid substances varied in size, shape, and color from white-cream to golden-brown. A forensic team and forest department officers were present during the search. Forensic analysis and testing confirmed the contraband weighed 4.354 kg and was valued at Rs 4,35,40,000. The arrested men were detained under Section 35(1)(e) of the BNSS (Wildlife Protection Act) and handed over to the Bavla Police Station for legal proceedings under the Wildlife Protection Act. Ajay Chavda revealed that Mehul Manish Dabhi had called him to Bavla to arrange the sale of ambergris. The arrested individuals had planned to meet Dabhi, Kishor Tikam Gohel, and Ashok Vaghela at a location near a hotel in Bavla to exchange the ambergris. However, Vaghela and Chauhan were apprehended before the exchange could occur.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}