Salim Dola, aka Salim Abdul Rehman Dol, is one of the most feared names in India’s fight against drugs. Born in Mumbai in 1966, he rose from a middle-class background to become a drug kingpin with global reach. His story is not just about crime but also about how one man built a network that stretched across continents.
In April 2026, Salim was finally deported from Turkey to India after years of hiding abroad. He was arrested in Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district in a joint operation by Turkish intelligence and police, acting on inputs from Indian agencies. His return marks a major breakthrough for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other law enforcement bodies.
Salim Dola Age, Wife, Kids, Family, BIO
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Salim Abdul Rehman Dol (alias Mohammad Salim Dola) |
| Date of Birth | 1966 |
| Age (as of April 2026) | 60 years |
| Birthplace | Byculla, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion / Community | Muslim |
| Known For | Drug Kingpin, Synthetic Drug Trafficker |
| Height | Approx. 5’8” (173 cm) |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English |
| Profession(s) | Smuggler, Drug Trafficker, Underworld Figure |
| Criminal Associations | Close aide of Chhota Shakeel, linked to Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company |
| Major Crimes | Smuggling gutkha, marijuana, heroin, charas, mephedrone, mandrax, methamphetamine, fentanyl (“Button” pills) |
| Key Arrests | 2012 (80 kg marijuana), 2018 (100 kg fentanyl) |
| Interpol Status | Red Corner Notice issued in 2024 |
| Recent Arrest | Detained in Istanbul, Turkey (April 2026), deported to India |
| Family | Wife and daughter (living in Dubai), Son: Taher Salim Dola (businessman, deported 2025), Nephew: Mustafa Mohammad Kubbawala (deported 2025) |
| Business Fronts | Real estate company in UAE under son’s name |
| Current Status (2026) | In custody of NCB, Delhi; pending handover to Mumbai and Gujarat Police |
Early Life and Background
Salim was born in Byculla, Mumbai, in 1966, into a middle-class Muslim family. His childhood was not very different from others in his neighbourhood, but the area was known for its proximity to the underworld. As a teenager, Salim came into contact with Chhota Shakeel, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim. Shakeel was part of Dawood’s D-Company, and through him, Salim got his first taste of the underworld. He started small, smuggling gutkha (tobacco) across Mumbai and Delhi.
His family background remained largely hidden from public view. Reports suggest that Salim was married and had children, including his son Taher Salim Dola, who later became involved in drug smuggling and business operations abroad. His wife and daughter are believed to be living in Dubai.
Entry into the Underworld
After gutkha, he moved into marijuana trafficking, which gave him bigger profits and wider networks. In 2012, he was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) with 80 kilograms of marijuana. He spent nearly five years in jail before being acquitted in 2017.
After his release, Salim met Kailash Rajput, a fugitive drug supplier. This meeting was a turning point. With Rajput’s help, Salim entered the world of synthetic drugs, which were far more dangerous and profitable. He began manufacturing a pill known as “Button”, made using fentanyl, a powerful opioid.
By 2018, Salim was arrested again in Mumbai’s Santacruz area with 100 kilograms of fentanyl. However, he was released on bail within four months after forensic reports claimed the samples tested negative. He moved first to the United Arab Emirates, where he set up a real estate business under his son’s name, and later to Turkey, where he continued to operate under forged identities.
Rise in Drug Trafficking
After his release in 2017, Salim Dola wasted no time in returning to the world of crime. He had already tasted profits from marijuana smuggling, but now he wanted something bigger. His meeting with Kailash Rajput, another fugitive drug supplier, opened the door to synthetic drugs. Together, they began experimenting with new substances that could be produced in secret labs and sold at high prices.
He was no longer just a small-time smuggler; he was now a major supplier of narcotics across India. His name started appearing in police records linked to seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, mandrax, and methamphetamine. Investigators say he was able to set up factories in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Synthetic Drugs and “Button” Pills
One of Salim’s most dangerous creations was the “Button” pill, made using fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is many times stronger than morphine. Even a small dose can be deadly. Salim’s pills became popular in party circuits, especially among young people who did not realise how harmful they were.
In 2018, Salim was arrested in Mumbai’s Santacruz area with 100 kilograms of fentanyl. This was a huge seizure, and authorities believed it could have caused thousands of deaths if it had reached the market. But within four months, Salim was released on bail after forensic reports claimed the samples tested negative.
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Expansion Abroad: UAE Operations
After his release, Salim fled India and moved to the United Arab Emirates. There, he set up a real estate business under his son’s name, Taher. This business was a front for his illegal activities. Reports suggest that Salim used forged UAE identity documents to avoid detention.
In Dubai, Salim lived a comfortable life while continuing to run his drug empire. He used his business connections to launder money and expand his network. His son Taher and nephew Mustafa also became involved in smuggling operations. Together, they managed to keep the business running even while Salim stayed away from India. Under the Interpol framework, both Taher and Mustafa were deported from the UAE.
Family Connections in Crime
Salim’s family was deeply involved in his operations. His son, Taher Salim Dola, was known as a businessman in Dubai but was secretly helping his father with smuggling. His nephew, Mustafa Mohammad Kubbawala, was also part of the network. Both were deported in 2025, weakening Salim’s hold on the international market.
Salim’s wife and daughter are believed to be living in Dubai. While they have not been directly linked to smuggling, their presence abroad gave Salim a safe base to operate from. His family connections show how deeply rooted his empire was, with multiple members playing roles in keeping the business alive.
Network and Influence
Salim was not just another smuggler; he was a man with deep roots in the underworld. His close ties with Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company gave him protection and access to international contacts. Through these links, he was able to secure raw materials for synthetic drugs and set up factories across several states in India.
His influence spread beyond India. Reports suggest that Salim had connections in the Middle East and Europe, which helped him move drugs across borders. He was known for his ability to quickly distribute narcotics through a well-organised chain of suppliers. This network made him one of the most powerful figures in the drug trade, feared by rivals and hunted by law enforcement.
Law Enforcement Challenges
For Indian authorities, Salim Dola was a nightmare. He had been arrested multiple times, but each time he managed to escape conviction. In 2012, he was caught with marijuana; in 2018, with fentanyl. Yet loopholes in the system allowed him to walk free.
By 2024, the situation had become so serious that the Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him. The Mumbai Police and Gujarat ATS declared him one of their most wanted criminals. His ability to operate from abroad made it difficult for Indian agencies to catch him. Even when his son and nephew were deported from the UAE in 2025, Salim himself managed to stay hidden in Turkey.
Arrest and Detention in 2026
The breakthrough finally came in April 2026. Acting on inputs from Indian agencies, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation and local police detained Salim in Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district. He was living under a forged identity, but investigators were able to track him down.
Salim was deported to India and handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Delhi. He is currently being interrogated at the NCB’s RK Puram office. Officials say he will soon be handed over to Mumbai and Gujarat police, where several cases are pending against him. His arrest is seen as a major victory in India’s fight against drugs.
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