Seven held for possessing ambergris worth 5.3cr

Kolhapur: The Satara forest department on Thursday arrested seven people for possessing 5.3kg ambergris (whale vomit) worth Rs5.3 crore. It is used in beauty products.The Satara forest department identified the accused as Atul Ashok Vishwasrao from Thane West, Hitendra Manohar Shetye from Lalbaug Parel, Koustubh Milind Prabhu from Dhankawadi in Pune, Mohan Haribhau Patil from Bhaveghar area in Thane, Akash Shyamsundar Dhuri, Evzen Clement Fernandes, Wilson Juje Fernandes, all three from Malwan in Sindhudurg district.After receiving information, the forest department laid a trap in Mahabaleshwar's Venna Lake and Metatale. They found the material inside the vehicles. The material is banned under Wildlife (Protection) Act.Mahadev Mohite, range forest officer Mahabaleshwar said that the case has been registered against the accused. "We will prove whether there are any other individuals involved in this case. The sale, illegal transport, possession and trade of the whale vomit is banned. It is non-bailable offence which may put the accused behind bars for maximum seven years," said Mohite.