ED arrests two in trans-national narcotics syndicate operated by Salim Ismail Dola

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested two in connection with an investigation against the trans-national organised narcotics trafficking syndicate operated by Salim Ismail Dola, a drug trafficker who was brought back to India from Turkiye recently-- and his associates.

Pravin alias Nagesh Ramchandra Shinde and Brijesh Kanjibhai Moradiya were held under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

ED's Mumbai zonal office arrested the accused following its investigation initiated based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by various law enforcement agencies in Mumbai against Salim Dola and others for offences relating to illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.


Dola, alias Salim Ismail Dola, is alleged to be a close associate of global wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and has been charged by anti-narcotics agencies with running a transnational drugs trafficking syndicate. The 59-year-old Dola was brought back by India from Turkiye in April and was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) soon after he landed at the Delhi airport.

ED investigation conducted so far has revealed the existence of a highly organised trans-national criminal network engaged in procurement of precursor chemicals, clandestine manufacture of Mephedrone (MD), interstate transportation and distribution of narcotic drugs, international trafficking of narcotic substances, collection and layering of Proceeds of Crime through hawala channels, and acquisition of movable and immovable assets in the names of associates and other persons.

"Pravin is involved in the illegal clandestine manufacturing of MD and in activities connected with generation, handling, possession, utilisation and movement of proceeds derived from illicit sale of the said narcotic substances. The illicit proceeds were used to acquire immovable properties and other assets in the names of persons closely associated with him," said the federal agency in a statement.

ED investigation also revealed that Brijesh was involved in arranging the procurement and supply of the precursor chemical used for illicit manufacture of MD. "The Cash received in connection with procurement of the precursor chemical through Angadiya channel from Salim Dola was deposited and routed through multiple third-party and family accounts and entities controlled and arranged by him and his associates, thereafter transferred through the banking channel towards various chemical companies and entities, thereby facilitating procurement of the precursor chemical."

Simultaneously, ED said amounts involved in these transactions were received by Brijesh and his associated and family accounts in the guise of commission from the sale of the chemical and the same were thereafter further transferred, layered and utilised.

ED had earlier conducted search operations at 21 locations across Mumbai, Surat, Ankleshwar and Rajkot on June 2 and June this year in this case and had covered the entire spectrum of the organised narcotics network of Salim Dola targeting end-to-end nodes of the syndicate including precursor chemical suppliers, chemical traders, manufacturers and distributors of the synthetic narcotic drug MD, hawala operators and persons holding benami properties worth crores of rupees acquired from proceeds generated through the organised drug syndicate.

The searches resulted in the seizure and freezing of cash, foreign currency, gold bars, and bank balances valued at Rs 1.33 crore, along with USD 2,200. Additionally, documents relating to immovable properties worth several crores of rupees located in India and Dubai were recovered, indicating substantial investments made from the proceeds of the organised drug syndicate.