Notorious drug lord Salim Dola extradited after decades on the run

Salim Dola, a man with a long history in the narcotics trade, was arrested and extradited to India in April 2023 under Operation Global Hunt. His criminal career spans decades, beginning in the early 1990s as a charas peddler. Over the years, his activities expanded to include large-scale drug smuggling and alleged ties to organised crime groups. Dola first entered the drug trade around 1991-92, selling charas. By 1998, he had started a catering business, Bohri Caterers, in Mumbai. Financial support for the venture reportedly came from members of D-Company, though Dola denies any operational relationship with the group.

That same year, he was arrested at Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 40 kg of Mandrax tablets. He spent nearly six months in Arthur Road Jail, where he developed connections with inmates linked to D-Company. After securing bail, he fled India and became an international fugitive.

Dola later returned to the narcotics trade following the closure of Bohri Caterers. In 2018, he was arrested again, this time for allegedly possessing 100 kg of suspected fentanyl. His eventual capture came in 2023, when authorities extradited him to India. Dola’s extradition marks the end of a lengthy pursuit by Indian authorities. His case involves multiple arrests, alleged high-level drug trafficking, and connections to organised crime. He now faces legal proceedings in India for his past actions.