Mandya: Forest Department officials have arrested a man for illegally storing and smuggling Ambergris at his house in Nagamangala.

The arrested is 31-year-old R.C. Vinay Kumar, a resident of Old Post Office Badagodamma Temple Road in Nagamangala town.

The Forest personnel have seized 3.10 kg Ambergris, a black bag used to smuggle the substance, a bucket used for keeping Ambergris in salt water and a mobile phone.

Acting on a tip off, the Forest officials and staff, on Dec. 16, raided Vinay Kumar’s house and seized Ambergris, which comes under Schedule – 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The Forest officials, who have registered a case under Wildlife Protection Act, have launched a hut to nab others who were involved in the illegal act.

DCF Chandrashekar Gowda C. Patil guided ACF G. Rudresh, RFOs K. Surendra and Sachin, DRFOs C.S. Mohan and V. Muthuraj and staff Devaraj Bandivaddar and Kumar in the nabbing and seizing operation.