Dawood Ibrahim's key aide Salim Dola deported from Turkey in major anti-drug crackdown
Dawood Ibram's key aide deported: In a significant breakthrough for Indian law enforcement and intelligence agencies against the international drug syndicate, Salim Dola, key member of Dawood Ibrahim gang and drug lord, was deported to India on April 28.
He was deported via special aircraft in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a successful coordinated operation between Indian intelligence and international agencies.
Dola's deportation follows his arrested in Turkey's Istanbul. He was immediately taken into custody after his arrival followed by multiple rounds of extensive interrogation.
"If Dola has been detained, then it's great news, and a big blow to his trafficking network," a senior officer from Mumbai police, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said right after the news of his arrest came to light.
The deportation of Salim Dola comes after a series of major legal successes for Indian authorities, starting with the extradition of his son, Taher Dola, from the United Arab Emirates in June 2025.
The crackdown continued in the following months when Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, a key associate in Dola’s network, was deported from Dubai and later arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell. These actions signalled increasing pressure on the network, which faces multiple charges in India, including large-scale drug production, international trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Apart from the drug-related investigations, Salim Dola and his associates are also being closely examined by the Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating several money-laundering cases connected to their illegal activities.
- With inputs from agencies
