NCB remand continues as deported drug trafficker’s international identity fraud and cartel links come under investigation
May 1, 2026: Mohammad Salim Dola, a 59-year-old alleged drug trafficking mastermind recently deported to India, reportedly used the alias “Hamza” to conceal his identity while living in Turkey. According to a PTI report, the fake identity was linked to a Bulgarian passport under which he was residing, though authorities are still verifying its authenticity.
Dola was deported to India on April 28 after being detained by Turkish intelligence agencies and local police in Beylikduzu. His arrest was made possible following an Interpol Red Notice issued at India’s request in March 2024. After his return, he was remanded to the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau until May 8.
Authorities say Dola has a long criminal history linked to transnational drug trafficking networks across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and has been associated with multiple narcotics seizures in India. His name has also surfaced in cases involving large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs, with alleged links to underworld networks including Dawood Ibrahim.