Mumbai: Salim Dola (59), an alleged drug kingpin and a close associate of fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, has been detained in Istanbul following a joint operation by the National Intelligence Organization of Türkiye and local police units.
Interpol Red Notice and Charges
According to an Interpol red notice, Dola faces multiple charges under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The act mandates a minimum 10-year jail for major offences and imposes strict bail conditions, particularly in cases involving commercial quantities of drugs. Authorities are expected to initiate extradition proceedings to bring him back to face trial under the NDPS Act.
Background of the Accused
Dola, who is from Dongri and had fled the city in 2015-16, has 8 to 10 offences under the NDPS Act. He was tracked down after it emerged that he was using a forged UAE identification document to conceal his identity and movements across jurisdictions. Officials described the arrest as a major disruption to a sophisticated, multi-layered narcotics syndicate operating across borders.
The network is believed to be involved in synthetic drug manufacturing and trafficking, with routes spanning India and the Middle East. Officials said Dola played a key role in coordinating with international suppliers, financial channels, and distribution networks, often relying on hawala transactions and fake travel documents to avoid detection.
Link to Major Drug Bust
His arrest is closely tied to an ongoing investigation into one of Maharashtra's largest synthetic drug cases involving mephedrone (MD) worth over Rs 252 crore in Mumbai. His son Tahir Salim Dola (30) was deported last year after his name cropped up in the drug bust case.
The case originated on February 15, 2024, when the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police arrested a woman courier near Sayaji Pagare Chawl with 641 grams of MD, Rs 12.2 lakh cash, gold jewellery, and a mobile phone. During interrogation, she allegedly revealed that she was acting under instructions from Dubai-based handlers, including Dola and Mohammed Salim Sohail Shaikh (29) alias Lavish, along with Indian associate Sajid Mohammad Asif Sheikh alias Dabs. This led police to the clandestine synthetic drug manufacturing unit in Sangli district.
A joint raid by Mumbai crime branch and Sangli police at Gujale Vasti in Irti village, Kavathe Mahankal taluka, led to the seizure of 123 kg of mephedrone, laboratory equipment, including ovens, mixers, filtration units, and weighing scales.
Role of Other Accused
Investigators said that Mohammed Salim Sohail Shaikh, who was deported from Dubai, played a crucial role in managing logistics and organising distribution of drugs. During interrogation, he reportedly disclosed details of drug-fuelled parties held in India and abroad, and named several celebrities allegedly linked to these events.
However, police said that during investigation, they did not find any evidence against these celebrities to prosecute them and hence they will not be named in the chargesheet, which will be submitted soon.
