Mangaluru: Vittal police arrested two men for allegedly possessing suspected ambergris, with intent to verify and sell it at a high price. According to the complaint filed by PSI (law and order) Ramakrishna, he was on night patrol within the station limits from Wednesday, 11 pm. At 12.15 am while at Vittal Junction, he received credible information that two persons were travelling from Mameshwara towards Kambalabettu on a scooter, and were carrying a sample of ambergris, a protected wildlife product, for testing and sale at a high price.Acting on the tip-off, the PSI, along with police personnel, reached Bolanthimogaru in Vittal Kasba village, Bantwal taluk, and waited for the suspects. Around 1 am, the scooter approached from the Mameshwara side. When police signalled the riders to stop, they attempted to turn the scooter around and flee. However, the police team surrounded and intercepted them.During questioning, the two men identified themselves as Kumudaksha,27, of Karopady village, and Dhanu Kumar,32, of Vittal Kasba village, Bantwal taluk.Kumudaksha then produced an object kept in a plastic cover and stated that it was ambergris which had been given to them by Rajesh and Chandramohan. When asked whether they possessed a valid licence to keep the wildlife product, they admitted that they had no such permission. The seized substance, along with the plastic cover, weighed 5.7 g, and is estimated to be worth Rs 8,000. Police also seized two mobile phones and the scooter used in the offence, valued at approximately Rs 80,000. A case has been registered under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,, and Section 3(5) of the BNS. An investigation is ongoing.
