Wanted drug trafficker Mohammed Salim Dola, 59, was taken into custody by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, following his deportation from Turkey in a coordinated operation involving international and Indian intelligence agencies under 'Operation Global Hunt'. Dola had allegedly established and run a major transnational drug trafficking syndicate spanning the Middle East, Africa, and Europe over two decades.

Who Is Mohammed Salim Dola

Dola, a resident of Mumbai, had been absconding from Indian law enforcement agencies for several years before his arrest. He was the subject of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at India's request in March 2024. His two-decade-long criminal record reportedly includes direct involvement in high-value seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, Mandrax, and methamphetamine in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Investigators had consistently identified him as a bulk supplier to downstream drug distribution networks across India. He was also wanted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Mumbai Police.

How the Arrest Was Secured

Dola was recently arrested in Istanbul in a joint operation involving local law enforcement and intelligence units. His detention was reportedly based on an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Following coordinated diplomatic and intelligence efforts under Operation Global Hunt, Indian authorities secured his deportation and formally took him into custody upon arrival at IGI Airport. The NCB acted in close coordination with international agencies to ensure his return.

Network Crackdown: A Series of Arrests

Dola's arrest is the latest in a string of high-profile actions against his alleged network. In June 2025, his son, Taher Salim Dola, was extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and arrested by the Mumbai Police. Months later, another key associate, Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, was deported from Dubai and arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell. These developments indicate a sustained and tightening crackdown on a network allegedly involved in drug manufacturing, trafficking, and other illicit operations.

Scale of the Alleged Drug Empire

Officials estimate that Dola operated a drug empire worth approximately ₹5,000 crore, making him one of the most significant players in the syndicate, according to investigators. His arrest is seen as a major blow not only to the alleged Dawood Ibrahim network but also to its purported financial channels. Investigators believe that proceeds from narcotics trafficking were used to fund activities described as detrimental to India's security interests, though formal charges are yet to be framed on all counts.

What Happens Next

With Dola now in NCB custody, investigators are expected to interrogate him on the full scope of his transnational network, financial flows, and links to organised crime. The case is being closely watched as a test of India's ability to dismantle cross-border narcotics syndicates through international cooperation. Further arrests of associates operating abroad cannot be ruled out, according to officials familiar with the investigation.