Who Is Salim Dola? Dawood Ibrahim Aide Brought Back From Turkiye In ₹438 Cr Gujarat Drug Case

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested alleged international drug trafficker Salim Ismail Dola in connection with a 2022 drug seizure. Dola was brought back to India after an Interpol Red Notice.

The case is related to the seizure of more than 80 kg of MD drugs, worth around Rs 438 crore, in Vadodara. Salim is an alleged associate of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. His arrest has brought renewed attention to his alleged links with international drug networks and the underworld.

Who Is Salim Dola?

Mohammad Salim Dola, 59, is a Mumbai-based alleged international drug trafficker and a close associate of fugitive underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, according to Indian investigative agencies.

A resident of Mumbai's Dongri area, Dola has been linked to several narcotics cases involving drugs such as heroin, charas, mandrax, mephedrone and methamphetamine.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has described him as a bulk supplier to drug distribution networks operating in India.

Dola allegedly built a drug trafficking network spread across parts of the Middle East, Africa and Europe. He had been wanted in multiple narcotics cases and was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued at India's request in March 2024.

His name has surfaced in several major drug investigations over the years. He was first arrested in 1998 at Mumbai airport with around 40 kg of mandrax.

In 2013, he was arrested in a case involving approximately 79 kg of charas. He was also linked to a 2018 fentanyl case involving a seizure valued at nearly ₹1,000 crore.

What Is The Case Against Salim Dola?

Dola's name came up during an investigation into an illegal mephedrone manufacturing unit near Sindhrot village in Vadodara district.

On December 1, 2022, the Gujarat ATS raided the facility and seized 87.728 kg of mephedrone, also known as MD, valued at ₹438.64 crore in the international market. Police arrested 10 people in connection with the case.

During the investigation, officials found that Dola was allegedly involved in supplying the chemicals required to manufacture mephedrone. He is also accused of purchasing and selling the finished drug.

According to ATS officials, the drugs produced at the facility were transported to Mumbai and handed over to Dola's associates. Investigators are now questioning him to establish the source of the chemicals, financial transactions and distribution channels, as well as identify other people involved in the network.

ATS Assistant Commissioner of Police SL Chaudhary said: said "During the investigation, the name of Salim Ismail Dola emerged as one of the persons involved in the case. He was wanted, and a search was launched for him after it came to light that he was operating a drug network from abroad," according to Hindustan Times.

He further added, “He provided the chemicals used in the manufacturing process and, after the drug was produced, he also bought and sold the finished product. This was his main role in the Sindhrot case."

Indian agencies traced him to Turkiye. He was arrested in Istanbul on April 25, 2026, following an Interpol Red Notice issued at India's request. The NCB subsequently brought him back to India on April 28 under its Operation Global-Hunt and took him into custody in Delhi.