Istanbul (Türkiye): In a major breakthrough for Indian intelligence agencies, Salim Dola, a high-ranking operative and close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was deported to India on Tuesday morning, April 28, 2026. Dola, who was apprehended in Istanbul, Turkey, landed at a technical airport in Delhi via a special aircraft following a highly coordinated international operation.
Dola’s capture is the result of a joint effort between Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) and Indian intelligence agencies. He had reportedly been evading global law enforcement for years by operating under a false identity with forged documents. His arrest in Istanbul specifically targeted a transnational synthetic drug trafficking network that Turkish and Indian authorities believe is a primary revenue stream for the D-Company syndicate.
Key Role in D-Company Operations
Intelligence sources describe Salim Dola as a “lynchpin” in the underworld’s global narcotics trade. His primary responsibilities included:
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Narcotics Management: Overseeing the supply and distribution of illegal synthetic drugs across international borders.
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Financial Coordination: Managing the syndicate’s overseas financial interests derived from drug trafficking.
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Network Expansion: Coordinating with local cartels and drug traffickers to expand D-Company’s reach in the Middle East and Europe.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Upon his arrival in Delhi, Dola was immediately taken into custody by central intelligence officials for intensive questioning. Sources indicate that he will be handed over to the Mumbai Police shortly, as he is wanted in several high-profile cases involving organized crime, extortion, and drug smuggling in Maharashtra.
His deportation is being hailed as a significant victory for India’s “Zero Tolerance” policy toward organized crime and terrorism. Security analysts believe Dola’s interrogation could yield critical information regarding the current whereabouts of other D-Company members and the syndicate’s evolving methods of operation in the post-pandemic global market.