Dawood Ibrahim associate brought to India in big anti-narcotics operation

In a significant breakthrough against international narcotics networks, Indian agencies have deported Salim Dola, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, to India following a coordinated global operation.

Dola was brought to Delhi in the early hours of April 28 aboard a special flight, a day after being detained in Istanbul, Turkey. He is believed to be a key figure managing a large part of the D-Company’s overseas drug trafficking network, allegedly worth thousands of crores annually.

On arrival, he was taken into immediate custody and is currently being interrogated by central intelligence agencies. Officials said he is likely to be handed over to either the Mumbai Police or the Narcotics Control Bureau for further investigation. Investigators expect Dola’s questioning to yield critical insights into international drug routes, financial channels, and key operatives linked to the syndicate.

Crackdown gathers pace
The deportation is part of a wider crackdown on Dola’s network. In June 2025, his son, Taher Dola, was extradited from the United Arab Emirates. This was followed by the deportation of another close aide, Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, from Dubai, who was later arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell. These actions signal tightening enforcement against a syndicate accused of large-scale drug trafficking, international smuggling, and organised crime.

Financial probe intensifies
Beyond narcotics, the network is also under scrutiny for financial crimes. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating multiple money laundering cases linked to Dola and his associates. With Dola now in custody, authorities believe the operation could mark a turning point in efforts to dismantle the overseas operations of the D-Company.