DRI seizes 18kg ambergris, arrests 4

TUTICORIN: The department of revenue intelligence (DRI) arrested four men and seized 18kg of ambergris from them. The seized ambergris is worth 30 crore, according to officials.
The arrested have been identified as former AIADMK councillor Eswaran, Anil, Anandaraj and Bethane. Anil, Anandaraj and Bethane are natives of Kerala.
Ambergris, which is the vomit of a whale, is a banned wildlife product. Ambergris is a solid waxy substance produced in the gut of the sperm whale.
DRI sleuths received a tip-off about a gang trying to smuggle ambergris in Tuticorin. They tightened their vigil. Based on their investigation, they tracked the gang members.
They seized the wildlife product from the gang members and arrested them.
Though the fresh ambergris has fecal odour, it turns into a pleasant smell once it ages.
It has a huge commercial value in the perfume market since the perfume makers use it as a fixative to endure the fragrance longer.