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Man arrested in India after police seize rare whale byproduct worth $240,000

Police in India have arrested a man after seizing about four pounds of ambergris, a rare and highly valuable byproduct of sperm whales, during an operation prompted by a tip to authorities.
Police in India have arrested a man after seizing about four pounds of ambergris, a rare and highly valuable byproduct of sperm whales, during an operation prompted by a tip to authorities.
blake81/Getty

Police in India have arrested a man after seizing about four pounds of ambergris, a rare and highly valuable byproduct of sperm whales, during an operation prompted by a tip to authorities.

Officials say the material, estimated to be worth about $240,000 on the international market, is illegal to possess under India's wildlife protection laws. The seizure was made after investigators tracked the suspect and recovered the substance, sometimes referred to as "whale vomit," though no further details about the suspect have been released.


Ambergris forms in the digestive system of sperm whales and is expelled naturally into the ocean, where it can float for years and harden over time. While fresh ambergris has a strong and unpleasant odor, aged ambergris develops a sweet, musky scent that makes it highly prized by the perfume industry.

Perfumers value ambergris because it acts as a fixative, helping fragrances last longer on the skin. Because sperm whales are protected worldwide and trade in ambergris is restricted or banned in many countries, seizures like this one are rare and often involve significant legal penalties.

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