India's Notorious Synthetic Drug Kingpin Detained in Turkey
Salim Dola, the alleged mastermind behind one of India's largest synthetic drug manufacturing and supply cartels, has been detained in Istanbul, Turkey. The development comes after a joint operation by the Turkish national intelligence organisation, MIT, and local police units, based on an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) issued following a request from India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
From Gutkha to Synthetic Drugs: A Rise to Infamy
- Salim Dola started out selling gutkha before moving on to marijuana.
- He was arrested in 2012 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after 80 kilograms of marijuana were found in his possession.
- He remained in jail for five years before being acquitted in the case.
A New Chapter in the Rise of Salim Dola
Upon his release, Dola befriended Kailash Rajput, a fugitive drug supplier, who helped him set up a manufacturing unit for 'Button', a synthetic drug made using fentanyl, a dangerous opioid.
Fentanyl Bust and Bail
- Mumbai Police’s anti-narcotics cell arrested Dola in 2018 from Santa Cruz with 100 kilograms of fentanyl.
- He was granted bail after a forensic report said the samples tested in the case came back negative for fentanyl.
- While out on bail, Dola fled to the UAE and established a real estate business for his son, Taher.
The Final Nail in the Coffin
Dola later acquired a UAE passport under a different name and fled to Turkey, where he was eventually nabbed following a joint operation by the Turkish authorities and local police units.
Salim Dola's alleged connection to Dawood Ibrahim has also been a point of interest in the ongoing narcotics case.