amit-shah-hails-ncb-for-bringing-back-dola-from-turkey

The return of high-profile narcotics offender Mohammad Salim Dola to India, which happened on Tuesday, is an important success story for India’s battle against drug trafficking. The news has been officially shared by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who called it an achievement that reflects the "zero tolerance" policy of the Indian government toward such syndicates.

 

Dola, 59, had been a fugitive for some time until his arrest in Turkey, which was triggered by an Interpol Red Notice issued at India’s request in March 2024. Sharing the news on X, Shah remarked that under the current administration's mission to dismantle cartels, law enforcement agencies have expanded their reach globally. He warned that drug kingpins can no longer expect to find a safe haven anywhere in the world.

 

Zero tolerance against Narco syndicate.

The @narcoticsbureau today made a major breakthrough in securing the return of notorious drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola from Turkiye. Under Modi govt's mission to ruthlessly smash drug cartels, our anti-narcotics agencies have…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 28, 2026

 

The Ministry of Home Affairs detailed that the operation, dubbed "Operation Global-Hunt," culminated in Dola being taken into custody by the NCB at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi early this morning. According to official records, Dola — who is fluent in Hindi and Marathi — faces a litany of charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

 

For over two decades, Dola is alleged to have built a vast transnational network spanning the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Investigators have also linked him to international terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, identifying him as a key figure in the bulk supply of heroin, charas, and synthetic drugs like mephedrone and methamphetamine across Maharashtra and Gujarat. His criminal activities had long made him a priority target for both the Gujarat ATS and the Mumbai police.

 

This latest arrest follows a pattern of closing in on the syndicate; Dola’s son, Tahil, and several other associates were previously apprehended by Mumbai police after being deported from the UAE in 2025. The Home Ministry noted that this successful repatriation was made possible through seamless coordination between Indian agencies, Interpol, and the Turkish authorities.

 

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