CAs, Hawala & Benami Assets: Former Dawood Aide Salim Dola Faces ED Heat After Extradition From Turkey
CAs, Hawala & Benami Assets: Dawood Aide Salim Dola Faces ED Heat After Extradition From Turkey Reported By, Last Updated: June 02, 2026, 16:46 IST
CAs, Hawala & Benami Assets: Dawood Aide Salim Dola Faces ED Heat After Extradition From Turkey Reported By, Last Updated: June 02, 2026, 16:46 IST The agency launched coordinated raids across 20 locations in Maharashtra and Gujarat to dismantle a transnational narcotics-trafficking and money-laundering racket Alleged drug trafficker and close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Salim Dola, is escorted by NCB officials upon his arrival at the Mumbai airport. (File pic/PTI) Weeks after being extradited from Turkey, former Dawood Ibrahim aide Salim Ismail Dola is facing intense scrutiny from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). The agency launched coordinated raids across 20 locations in Maharashtra and Gujarat to dismantle a transnational narcotics-trafficking and money-laundering racket. An ED official confirmed the operation, stating, “The Mumbai Zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement is conducting massive search operations at 20 locations across Mumbai, Surat, Ankleshwar, and Rajkot. This is in connection with an investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against a transnational organised narcotics trafficking syndicate operated by Salim Ismail Dola and his associates." Dola, who is accused of running the international drugs network, was extradited from Turkey in May this year.
A key cog in Dawood’s drug empire wheel, Dola is accused of carrying a drug network in Wesy Asia, Africa, and Europe. Entire Supply Chain Targeted The ED searches targeted every link in the syndicate’s operational chain. Law enforcement raided premises linked to Suppliers of precursor chemicals. Intermediaries engaged in chemical trading. Traffickers involved in the manufacture and distribution of the synthetic narcotic drug Mephedrone (MD). Hawala operators and suspects accused of holding benami properties. Officials suspect these real estate assets were acquired entirely using proceeds generated by the organised drug syndicate. The Predicate Offence The ED’s money laundering investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered across Mumbai against Dola and his associates for offences relating to the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. According to investigators, the probe has revealed a highly structured criminal network. The syndicate’s operations span the procurement of precursor chemicals, clandestine manufacturing of mephedrone, interstate transportation, international smuggling, and the laundering of illicit funds through hawala channels to acquire movable and immovable assets under benami names.
Professionals Under the Scanner The ED is extensively probing the financial infrastructure of the network, focusing heavily on the role of professionals who facilitated the movement of dirty money. “The entire chain starting from manufacturing units (chemical factories), financial facilitators, and persons involved therein—including accountants and Chartered Accountants (CAs)—are under the scanner," an investigator revealed. They added that the raids are actively targeting hawala operators who facilitated the round-tripping of crime proceeds into benami properties both in India and abroad. Salim Dola reportedly lived in Turkey under aliases and used a Bulgarian passport. An Interpol red notice was issued against him in 2024. His sophisticated international support system allowed him to evade arrest for a long time, say officials News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from gr...
Read More First Published: June 02, 2026, 16:40 IST News india CAs, Hawala & Benami Assets: Dawood Aide Salim Dola Faces ED Heat After Extradition From Turkey Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire