Mumbai: The Mumbai zonal office of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday took custody of alleged druglord Salim Dola from its Delhi counterpart in connection with multiple cases registered against him in Mumbai. Officials said Dola will be produced before a special NDPS court on Thursday over a 2024 case, in which he is listed as a wanted accused.Sources indicated that after NCB’s proceedings, other agencies including Mumbai crime branch, anti-narcotics cell and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are likely to seek his custody.Dola, a known associate of fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, was brought to India from Istanbul following his detention in a joint operation by Turkish intelligence and local police.The NCB case stems from the arrest of Faisal Javed Shaikh, an alleged narco-criminal from Dongri, in May 2024 under Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Authorities had frozen his assets worth Rs 6.4 crore, identified as proceeds of crime. Subsequent investigations by ED revealed that Shaikh had been procuring mephedrone (MD), a banned synthetic drug, through Dola.According to investigators, Shaikh and his wife, Alfiya Shaikh, had established a well-organised network for distribution of MD. The couple allegedly laundered illicit earnings by depositing cash into personal bank accounts and routing funds through multiple accounts and shell companies to project them as legitimate income.In Oct last year, ED’s Mumbai zonal office conducted searches under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, seized cash worth Rs 42 lakh, jewellery weighing 1.6kg valued around Rs 1.8 crore, three second-hand luxury vehicles worth around Rs 56 lakh, and froze 12 bank accounts linked to the accused.Following NCB’s action, Mumbai police are expected to take Dola into custody in connection with multiple MD manufacturing cases registered against him and his son, Tahir.Originally from Dongri, Dola is believed to have operated a multistate and international narcotics syndicate from abroad after fleeing India nearly a decade ago. His criminal history dates to the 1990s, including involvement in a mandrax seizure case at Mumbai airport. Sources indicated that he is wanted in over a dozen cases across the country, including major drug investigations linked to the busting of MD units in Mira-Bhayander, Mysuru, Sangli, Karjat and Telangana. He had been on the fugitive list since 2018.
