Dawood Ibrahim's aide Salim Dola arrested in Turkey's Istanbul

Salim Dola, an alleged drug kingpin and aide of fugitive gangster-terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, has been arrested in Turkey's Istanbul. He was caught by Turkish security authorities, local media reports said.

Sources within Indian security agencies have confirmed the news of Salim's arrest. He was the subject of a Red Corner Notice issued by the Interpol on the basis of a request moved by India's Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) over cases filed by Mumbai Police.

Salim has allegedly been involved in running a transnational synthetic drug trafficking network, spanning several countries, using multiple clandestine laboratories and factories spread across India. According to sources, he controlled his drug racket from Dubai.

'BIG BLOW TO DRUG SMUGGLING'

Before the arrest was confirmed, an Indian official had said that it would be a big blow to the wanted kingpin's drug trafficking ring if he were indeed caught.

"If Dola has been detained, then it's great news, and a big blow to his trafficking network," a senior officer from Mumbai police, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, had said.

Sources have told India Today that Salim's drug cartel was operating a drug smuggling network to the tune of more than Rs 5,000 crore a year, with no estimates available about the transnational syndicate's revenues.

CRACKDOWN ON SALIM DOLA'S AIDES

Last year, Salim's son, Taher Dola, was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an operation involving local authorities and Interpol. The younger Dola was successfully extradited to India in June 2025.

Months later, Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, a key associate of Salim Dola's, was deported from Dubai and arrested by the Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell in connection with multiple cases.

Salim Dola and his aides have multiple cases of drug smuggling, manufacturing, and other offences registered against them in India. They also face money-laundering cases being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).