Divulapitiya Police have arrested a 44-year-old man in possession of a large stock of ambergris valued at over Rs. 5 million.
The suspect, a resident of Wathurugama, Kirindiwela, was arrested yesterday (10) in the Bomugammana area along the Divulapitiya–Negombo road.
The arrest was made following a tip-off received by police.
Officers seized 1.2 kilograms of ambergris, which the suspect had prepared for sale.
Ambergris, also called grey amber or whale vomit, is produced in the bile duct of sperm whales.
It is highly sought after in the international market for use in luxury perfumes, earning it the name “floating gold.”
In Sri Lanka, the possession and sale of ambergris without proper authorisation is illegal.
