Mumbai Crime Branch takes custody of Dawood aide Salim Dola in ₹253 crore drug case
Synopsis
Mumbai Crime Branch has taken custody of Salim Dola — an alleged Dawood Ibrahim aide with a two-decade criminal record — in a ₹253 crore MD drug case that has already seen international extraditions from Dubai and the UAE. The move signals a deepening multi-agency probe into one of Maharashtra's largest narcotics networks.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Crime Branch took custody of Salim Dola , alleged aide of Dawood Ibrahim , on Wednesday, 13 May .
Dola is linked to the 2024 Sangli MD drug bust worth approximately ₹253 crore , in which 122 kg of mephedrone was seized.
He allegedly financed drug manufacturing units and supervised the narcotics transportation network across Maharashtra and Gujarat .
An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against Dola in March 2024 ; he had been absconding for several years.
His son Taher Salim Dola and associates were extradited from the UAE in 2025 in the same case.
Dola was transferred to Crime Branch custody from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after a Special NDPS Court granted the agency's plea.
Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday took custody of Salim Dola, an alleged close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, for further interrogation in connection with the 2024 Sangli MD drug manufacturing case valued at approximately ₹253 crore. The Special NDPS Court granted the Crime Branch's plea seeking custodial interrogation, paving the way for deeper investigation into an international narcotics trafficking network.
Background of the Sangli Drug Bust
In March 2024, investigators raided an illegal drug manufacturing facility in Sangli, seizing 122 kg of MD (mephedrone) drugs along with cash and gold collectively valued at approximately ₹253 crore. During the operation, six persons were arrested, including Pravin Shinde, who allegedly operated the clandestine factory. The seizure was among the largest single-location MD drug hauls recorded in Maharashtra.
Salim Dola's Alleged Role
According to Mumbai Police, Salim Dola, 59, a resident of Mumbai, allegedly financed the MD drug manufacturing units and supervised the transportation network linked to the narcotics operation. Investigations have consistently identified him as a bulk supplier to downstream drug distribution networks across Maharashtra and Gujarat. His two-decade-long criminal record reportedly includes direct involvement in high-value seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, Mandrax, and methamphetamine.
Interpol Notice and Extradition Links
An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against Dola at India's request in March 2024, as he had been absconding from Indian law enforcement agencies for several years. He was wanted by both the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai Police in multiple narcotics trafficking cases. Crime Branch Unit 7 had earlier arrested Taher Dola and Kubbawala after their extradition from Dubai in connection with the same case. Additionally, Dola's son, Taher Salim Dola, along with other associates, was arrested by Mumbai Police following extradition from the UAE in 2025.
Custody Transfer from NCB
Salim Dola had been lodged in Arthur Road Jail before Crime Branch formally took custody of him from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He is scheduled to be produced before a court on Wednesday. Officials indicated that the custodial interrogation is aimed at unravelling the broader international drug trafficking network allegedly linked to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. This marks a significant escalation in the multi-agency probe, which has now spanned international extraditions across the UAE and Dubai.
Point of View
Custodial transfers across agencies, and links to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. The real question investigators must now answer is how a drug manufacturing unit of this scale — 122 kg of MD drugs and ₹253 crore in assets — operated in Sangli without earlier detection. The probe's reach across NCB, Crime Branch, and Gujarat ATS also raises questions about inter-agency coordination that mainstream coverage has largely glossed over.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Salim Dola and why was he arrested?
Salim Dola, 59, is an alleged close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and is accused of financing MD drug manufacturing units and supervising their transportation network. He was taken into custody by Mumbai Crime Branch on 13 May for interrogation in the 2024 Sangli drug case valued at approximately ₹253 crore.
What was seized in the 2024 Sangli drug bust?
In March 2024, investigators raided an illegal drug manufacturing facility in Sangli, Maharashtra, and seized 122 kg of mephedrone (MD drugs) along with cash and gold collectively valued at approximately ₹253 crore. Six persons were arrested during the operation, including Pravin Shinde, the alleged factory operator.
What is Salim Dola's criminal history?
Salim Dola has a two-decade-long criminal record involving high-value seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, Mandrax, and methamphetamine in Maharashtra and Gujarat. He was also the subject of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at India's request in March 2024 and had been absconding from Indian law enforcement for several years.
How does this case connect to international drug networks?
Crime Branch Unit 7 had earlier arrested Taher Dola and Kubbawala after their extradition from Dubai in connection with the same case. Salim Dola's son, Taher Salim Dola, was also extradited from the UAE in 2025. The network is allegedly linked to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate and spans international supply chains.
Which agencies are involved in the investigation?
The investigation involves Mumbai Crime Branch, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Salim Dola was formally transferred from NCB custody to Crime Branch following a Special NDPS Court order granting custodial interrogation.
