Dawood Ibrahim aide Salim Dola handed over to Mumbai Crime Branch in MD drug probe

The Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday took custody of alleged drug trafficker Salim Dola said to be a close aide of underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim in connection with the 2024 Sangli MD drug manufacturing case valued at around Rs 253 crore reported IANSOfficials said Dola was taken into custody for further interrogation after the Special NDPS Court allowed the Crime Branchrsquos plea seeking his custodial interrogation reported IANSHe is expected to be produced before a Mumbai court as investigators continue to probe the alleged international narcotics network linked to the caseBefore being handed over to the Crime Branch Dola had been lodged at Arthur Road JailSangli drug factory raid led to massive seizureThe case relates to a major raid conducted by investigators in March 2024 at an alleged illegal mephedrone MD manufacturing unit in Maharashtrarsquos Sangli district reported IANSDuring the operation police seized 122 kilograms of MD drugs along with cash and gold collectively valued at nearly Rs 253 crore reported IANSSix accused were arrested at the time including alleged factory operator Pravin ShindeAccording to Mumbai Police the investigation later revealed that Salim Dola allegedly played a key role in financing the drug manufacturing operations and overseeing the transportation network used for distributing narcotics reported IANSOfficials suspect the racket had links extending beyond Maharashtra and involved an organised interstate and international supply chainCrime Branch probing international drug trafficking linksThe Mumbai Crime Branchrsquos Unit 7 has been investigating the wider network connected to the caseOfficials said Salim Dolarsquos custody is considered crucial to uncovering the financial trail overseas connections and operational structure of the narcotics syndicate reported IANSEarlier in the investigation the Crime Branch had arrested Taher Dola and another accused Kubbawala after they were extradited from Dubai in connection with the same drug racketPolice said Salim Dola was formally taken into custody from the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB to facilitate further questioning regarding the alleged trafficking network and its international linksInterpol Red Corner Notice issued against DolaInvestigators said Salim Dola 59 had been absconding from Indian law enforcement agencies for several years and was wanted in multiple narcotics trafficking cases reported IANSAn Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against him in March 2024 at Indiarsquos requestAccording to officials Dola has a criminal record spanning nearly two decades and has allegedly been linked to several major seizures involving heroin charas mephedrone methamphetamine and Mandrax in Maharashtra and Gujarat reported IANSInvestigative agencies have repeatedly identified him as a major supplier in drug distribution networks operating across parts of IndiaApart from Mumbai Police Dola was also wanted by the Gujarat AntiTerrorism Squad ATS in separate narcoticsrelated investigationsProbe widens into organised narcotics syndicateThe latest developments indicate that agencies are now intensifying efforts to dismantle the broader organised crime network allegedly connected to the drug manufacturing operationPolice believe custodial interrogation of Salim Dola could help investigators trace additional accused funding channels and overseas connections associated with the racketOfficials are also examining possible links between the narcotics network and organised criminal syndicates operating outside IndiaThe investigation into the Sangli MD drug case remains ongoingWith inputs from IANS