Dola, a resident of Mumbai’s Dongri area, was arrested in Turkey based on an Interpol Red Notice issued at India’s request in 2024. The 59-year-old had been wanted in multiple narcotics trafficking cases and had remained on the run for several years, evading sustained tracking efforts by Indian authorities.
Officials involved in the operation described the search for Dola as extremely challenging, akin to locating a needle in a haystack. In an attempt to avoid detection, he fled to Istanbul and lived in complete isolation. For nearly one and a half years, he reportedly did not step outside his room and avoided direct communication with anyone.
However, a single misstep ultimately led to his arrest. A few days ago, Dola ordered a courier delivery to his hideout address. This transaction enabled Indian agencies, with assistance from Interpol, to accurately trace his location. Acting on this intelligence, Indian officials alerted Istanbul police, who conducted a raid at the location and apprehended him.
Dola was subsequently brought to Delhi from Turkey on Tuesday. During a search of his residence, authorities recovered two Indian passports and one Bulgarian passport. He had been residing in Turkey under the assumed identity of ‘Hamza’ using the Bulgarian passport. Officials are currently investigating whether the Bulgarian passport is genuine or forged.
On Thursday, a local court in Mumbai remanded Dola to the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau until May 8. Authorities are expected to intensify investigations into his network, operations, and links to international drug trafficking syndicates.
The extradition marks a significant breakthrough for Indian law enforcement agencies in their ongoing efforts to dismantle global narcotics networks and bring long-absconding accused individuals to justice.
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