Kodagu Police Seize ₹10 Crore Worth ‘Floating Gold' in Major Wildlife Crime Bust

In a major crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, Karnataka’s Kodagu district police have seized 10.390 kg of ambergris—a rare and highly prized substance often called “floating gold” or whale vomit—valued at nearly ₹10 crore. The bust took place near Heggala Junction in Virajpet Taluk during a covert operation led by the Virajpet police.

Ambergris is a waxy, aromatic substance produced in the digestive tract of sperm whales, and is prized in the perfume industry for its fixative qualities. However, its trade is strictly prohibited in India, as sperm whales are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Smuggling Trail Uncovered

The ambergris was allegedly being smuggled from Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) to Andhra Pradesh via Bengaluru. Police arrested 10 individuals in connection with the case, and several currency counting machines were seized. A woman from Kerala reportedly handed over the ambergris to the group, leading authorities to widen the probe.

The arrested men include:

Shamsuddin S (45)
M Nawaz (54)
VK Latheesh (53)
Jesh V (40)
Prashanth T (52)
Raghavendra AV (48)
Balachandra Nayak (55)
Jobis KK (33)
(Names of two individuals were withheld.)

Crack Police Operation

A surveillance team, led by Sub-Inspector Pramod and comprising ASI Manjunath and officers Girish, Dharma, Nishant, and Chandrashekhar, intercepted an Innova Crysta and a Swift car after receiving intelligence inputs. The suspicious substance found inside was confirmed as ambergris by Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) tests.

Legal Action & Further Investigation

The FIR was filed under Sections 239 and 38A/B, and the seized material will undergo chemical analysis. Police confirmed that DSP Magesh Kumar, Inspector Anup Madhappa, and the Kodagu district team were instrumental in the operation.

Authorities are now probing larger smuggling networks, including rival groups and potential international links, behind the trafficking of this banned substance.

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