Salim Dola, an alleged close associate of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and a suspected major mephedrone (MD) producer, was brought to India from Turkey on Tuesday morning after being detained in Istanbul.
He landed at Delhi airport, where officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) took him into custody for further questioning.
Authorities said Dola, 59, is suspected of operating a large narcotics network from overseas after fleeing India nearly a decade ago. Investigators believe he continued coordinating drug-related activities across multiple Indian states while based abroad. His return is being viewed as a significant development in ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational narcotics operations linked to organised crime networks.
According to officials, Dola was detained in Istanbul on Sunday during a joint operation carried out by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization and local police. Indian agencies had reportedly been pursuing his extradition or deportation through coordinated international channels. His capture reflects increasing cooperation between foreign and Indian law-enforcement agencies on organised crime cases.
A Delhi NCB officer said Dola will first be interrogated by central investigators before being transferred to other states where criminal cases are registered against him. Maharashtra and Gujarat are among the states expected to seek custody for questioning in separate investigations linked to drug trafficking and related offences.
Originally a resident of Dongri in Mumbai, Dola has long been named in enforcement investigations involving synthetic drugs and underworld-linked smuggling networks. Officials are expected to examine his financial links, overseas contacts and possible role in coordinating supply chains. His deportation could provide investigators with fresh leads into wider criminal syndicates operating across borders.