A magistrate's court in Mumbai on Thursday remanded Salim Ismail Dola, an alleged drug smuggler and operative of the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate, to police custody until May 8. Dola was brought to India from Istanbul on the night of April 27–28, following his detention in a joint operation by Turkish intelligence and local police.
Court Proceedings and NCB's Request
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate KS Zanwar noted that Dola had been absconding and had not cooperated with investigations. The court cited the nature and gravity of the alleged offences and Dola's antecedents involving commercial quantities of contraband while granting police custody. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sought 10 days' custody of the 59-year-old, describing him as an "international drug trafficker associated with Dawood Ibrahim". The NCB's Mumbai zonal office took custody of Dola from its Delhi counterpart on Wednesday in connection with multiple cases registered in Mumbai.
Details of the Case
In its remand application submitted through special public prosecutor Geeta Nayyar, the NCB stated that the probe was at a preliminary stage and that 20 kg of Mephedrone — well above the commercial quantity threshold — had been seized so far. The agency told the court that during the recording of Dola's voluntary statement, he disclosed new facts and the involvement of other known and unknown persons, which required verification. Dola's lawyer, Zehra Charania, questioned the basis of his arrest, alleging it was made solely on the statement of a co-accused.
Background of the Investigation
The case stems from the 2023 arrest of Faisal Javed Shaikh, an alleged narco-criminal from Dongri. The NCB said during investigations, Dola's name emerged as an international drug trafficker associated with Dawood Ibrahim, and he was identified as the key supplier of the 20 kg of Mephedrone seized on June 9, 2023. According to the agency, Shaikh communicated with Dola via WhatsApp and collected deliveries at a predetermined location near Almas Hotel, JJ Hospital, Mumbai. The NCB stated that Shaikh admitted in his voluntary statement that he regularly procured about 40 kg of Mephedrone per month from Dola at Rs 7 lakh per kg and resold it at Rs 8 lakh per kg, earning an estimated Rs 40–50 lakh per month.
