Dawood Aide Salim Dola Deported To India After Arrest In Istanbul In Drug Case

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 14:06 IST

Salim Dola, an alleged associate of Dawood Ibrahim, has been deported from Istanbul to India after being arrested in a targeted operation by Turkish authorities.

Salim Dola, a close associate of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, has been deported to India from Istanbul following a coordinated international operation.

He was brought to Delhi’s technical airport after being apprehended by Turkish authorities and is currently under interrogation by Indian intelligence agencies.

According to news agency ANI, the deportation was carried out after an operation led by the intelligence department in collaboration with international agencies.

Dola is expected to be handed over to the Mumbai Police, where multiple agencies will further question him in connection with ongoing investigations.

According to CNN Turkiye, Dola, who was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, was arrested on April 25 during a targeted raid conducted by the Narcotics Crimes Division of the Istanbul Police Department.

He was located hiding in a residence in the Beylikduzu district.

Authorities reportedly carried out extensive technical and physical surveillance to confirm his exact location before executing the operation.

He was subsequently apprehended at the identified address and processed for deportation after completion of formal procedures by Turkish authorities.

LINKS TO DRUG TRAFFICKING NETWORKS IN INDIA

ANI, citing CNN Turk, reported that the operation in Turkey is linked to ongoing investigations in India.

Associates arrested in Mumbai’s Kurla region allegedly confessed to receiving instructions from Dola.

During related raids in India, authorities seized approximately 126 kilograms and 141 grams of mephedrone along with Rs 25,22,000 in cash, indicating the scale of the alleged narcotics network.

Dola is described as a key figure behind the drug operations linked to Dawood Ibrahim’s network.

FACING CHARGES UNDER NDPS ACT

The Interpol Red Notice against Dola states that he is facing multiple charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

As per ANI, the law prescribes stringent punishment, including a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment for serious offences involving commercial quantities of narcotics, along with strict bail provisions.

Officials are expected to formally charge Dola under provisions of the NDPS Act and other relevant laws for offences committed.

He will remain under the custody of Indian agencies as investigations progress.

GOVT REAFFIRMS CRACKDOWN ON DRUG SYNDICATES

Separately, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against drug syndicates following Dola’s deportation.

In a post on X, Shah said the Narcotics Control Bureau had achieved a “major breakthrough" in securing Dola’s return from Turkey.

“Under the Modi govt’s mission to ruthlessly smash drug cartels, our anti-narcotics agencies have extended their claws across borders through a robust network of global agencies. Now, no matter where they hide, no place is safe for drug kingpins," he said.

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