In two separate cases, the Thane police have cracked down on the persons allegedly involved in illegal wildlife trade. The crime branch have apprehended two persons, including a fitness instructor, for allegedly attempting to sell ivory tusk valued at Rs 2.50 crore. In another case, the Dombivali police have apprehended two persons for allegedly trying to sell Ambergris or whale vomit worth Rs 1.60 crore.
According to the police, specific information was received that on Tuesday around 3 pm, two to three persons would be arriving at Kalwa Naka to sell ivory tusk. A trap was laid at the said place and around 3.40 pm, two persons arrived at the spot and they were apprehended. The suspects were identified as Worli resident Amit Worlikar, 42, a fitness instructor and Kalwa resident Sagar Patil, 40, a lottery vendor. On questioning, Worlikar revealed that he was carrying an ivory tusk weighing 1.40 kg worth Rs 2.50 crore in a bag. The suspects revealed that one Tara, a resident of Mumbai, had given them ivory tusk in order to sell the same. A case has been registered in this regard by the Kalwa police on Wednesday.
In another case, information was received from the sources that on Wednesday, few persons having possession of Ambergris would be arriving in Dombivali in order to sell the same. The police team then laid a trap near a hotel, where the suspects were supposed to arrive. Around 12.30 am, two suspects had arrived at the spot and the police team apprehended them. The suspects were identified as Ulhasnagar residents Nandu Rai, 28, and Arjun Nirmal, 26.
On sustained questioning, Rai told the police that they had arrived at the spot to sell Ambergris, which was provided to them by their accomplice Madhukar Patil, who is wanted in the case.
Last month, the Mumbai police's property cell had arrested a food supplier from Ratnagiri for allegedly attempting to sell over two kg of Ambergris worth Rs 2.60 crore.
