ED Files Money Laundering Case Against D-Company Drug Empire, Raids 20 Locations Linked to Salim Dola

Enforcement Directorate has initiated a money laundering investigation into the D-Company's drug empire and its aide, Salim Dola, who was extradited from Turkey last month. ED's Mumbai Zonal Office conducted searches at 20 locations across Maharashtra and Gujarat, covering multiple premises in Mumbai, Ankleshwar, Surat, and Rajkot."Dola was running an international narcotics racket. He is a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim and operates a transnational drug network for him," officials said.Officials said the searches are being carried out at the premises of suppliers of precursor chemicals, intermediaries involved in chemical trading, and distributors of the synthetic narcotic drug mephedrone (MD).In March 2024, an Interpol Red Notice was issued

against Salim Dola, who was absconding and wanted by several state police forces and federal agencies, including the NCB."Over the years, Dola had established a major transnational drug-trafficking syndicate spanning several countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. His two-decade-long criminal history includes direct involvement in cases involving multiple high-value seizures of heroin, charas, mephedrone, mandrax, and methamphetamine in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Dola's role consistently emerged as that of a bulk supplier to downstream distribution networks in India. Besides, he is also wanted by the Gujarat ATS and the Mumbai Police," MHA said in April."Earlier, his son, Tahil Salim Dola, and other associates were arrested by the Mumbai Police after deportation/extradition from the UAE in 2025," the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said. Anti-money laundering agency said its investigation revealed that the drug syndicate operated by Dola and the D-Company had both forward and backward linkages with hawala operators."Searches are also covering individuals holding benami properties and real estate acquired through proceeds of crime generated by the organised drug syndicate operated by the D-Company," officials said.Money laundering probe against Dola and the D-Company drug syndicate stems from multiple FIRs registered in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, as well as cases filed by the NCB."Dola had established a highly organised transnational criminal network engaged in the 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," the Enforcement Directorate said.ED said on Tuesday that the searches are covering both the backward and forward linkages of the D-Company's vast drug network-from manufacturing units involved in producing synthetic drugs to hawala operators engaged in the transfer of illicit funds, as well as auditors, including chartered accountants, who allegedly helped conceal illegal money and make transactions appear legitimate by investing the proceeds in real estate through benami transactions.