Salim Dola: The Extradition of a Global Drug Kingpin

In a significant victory for Indian intelligence and law enforcement, Salim Dola, a high-ranking associate of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, has been extradited to India. Dola was apprehended in Istanbul following a joint operation between Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation and local police.

Currently held at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in Delhi, he is expected to be handed over to the Mumbai Police to face charges regarding a massive international narcotics operation.

Who is Salim Dola?

Salim Dola (born 1966) is a veteran of the Mumbai underworld who transitioned from petty smuggling to managing a multi-state synthetic drug empire.

• Early Years: Born in Byculla, Mumbai, he entered the crime world through Chhota Shakeel. He initially focused on smuggling gutkha and marijuana.

• The “Button” Trade: After a 2012 arrest and subsequent acquittal, Dola partnered with fugitive supplier Kailash Rajput. Together, they specialized in “Button”—a potent synthetic pill often formulated with the dangerous opioid Fentanyl.

• The 2018 Escape: Dola was arrested in 2018 with 100 kg of Fentanyl but secured bail after a controversial forensic report. He immediately fled to the UAE, where he lived as a fugitive for nearly a decade.

The Global Supply Chain

Investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch revealed that Dola wasn’t just a supplier but a director of a sophisticated “Sangli-to-Istanbul” pipeline:

1. Production: Mephedrone (MD) was manufactured in laboratories across Sangli (Maharashtra) and Surat (Gujarat).

2. Distribution: The drugs were moved to the UAE and Turkey.

3. Money Laundering: Proceeds were funneled into a real estate business in the UAE, managed under his son’s name.

The Takedown: A Family Network Dismantled

Authorities have spent the last year systematically dismantling Dola’s inner circle using the Interpol framework:

• Taher (Son): Deported from the UAE in 2025.

• Mustafa Kubbawala (Nephew): Deported alongside Taher, weakening Dola’s logistical control.

• Salim Dola (The Head): His extradition from Turkey marks the final blow to this specific D-Company vertical.

What’s Next?

Dola’s interrogation is expected to provide fresh leads into the current operations of D-Company in Turkey and the UAE, specifically regarding how they use legitimate businesses to mask the proceeds of synthetic drug sales.

The Mumbai police are particularly interested in his recent connections to Faisal Javed Shaikh, whose drug proceeds were allegedly being managed through Dola’s international accounts.