Dawood aide Salim Dola deported to India from Turkey in major drug crackdown
Salim Dola, a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was deported to India from Turkey early Tuesday, officials confirmed.
The 59-year-old alleged drug kingpin was detained over the weekend by Turkish intelligence and local police in Beylikduzu following inputs shared by Indian agencies. Upon arrival in India, he was taken into custody and moved to a secure airport facility for interrogation.
The deportation was facilitated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which had secured a Red Corner Notice against Dola through Interpol. He is wanted in multiple cases by the Mumbai Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau.
Investigators describe Dola as a key figure in Dawood Ibrahim’s narcotics network, allegedly overseeing drug production and trafficking operations. In recent years, he is believed to have expanded into large-scale manufacturing of mephedrone through clandestine labs across several Indian states.
Originally from Dongri in Mumbai, Dola has been linked to multiple high-profile drug busts over the years. He had previously been arrested by agencies including the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence but fled India in 2018 after jumping bail.
Officials indicated that Dola may be handed over either to the NCB or Mumbai Police, both of which are pursuing cases against him. His network had been under close surveillance in recent months.
His name also surfaced in a 2024 case involving the seizure of approximately 126 kg of mephedrone in Mumbai, where investigators traced the supply chain across Maharashtra, Turkey, and Dubai. Several accused in the case reportedly identified Dola as a central figure behind the operation.
Notably, his son, Tahir Salim Dola, was extradited from the UAE last year in connection with the same case.
Dola’s criminal record dates back decades. He was first arrested in 1998 at Mumbai’s airport for attempting to smuggle Mandrax tablets. In 2017, he was again arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence after authorities seized gutka consignments worth over ₹5 crore intended for illegal export.
Authorities are expected to issue further details following initial interrogation.
