Mumbai, October 23: In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch (Unit 7) has arrested Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Sheikh, a Dubai-based handler and alleged mastermind of a massive drug syndicate, after his extradition from the UAE.
Sheikh was detained in Dubai under a Red Corner Notice and brought back to India following completion of legal formalities. He was formally arrested on October 22 and remanded to police custody till October 30 by a Mumbai court.
The investigation stems from a 2024 case registered at Kurla Police Station under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act, related to a large-scale mephedrone (MD) operation uncovered last year.
The case began in February 2024, when the Crime Branch arrested Parveen Bano Gulam Sheikh from Kurla and seized 641 grams of mephedrone, ₹12.20 lakh in cash, and gold worth ₹1.5 lakh — with the total seizure initially valued at ₹25 crore.
Subsequent raids led police to Sajid Mohammed Asif Sheikh alias “Dabs”, from whom officers recovered 3 kg of mephedrone worth ₹6 crore and ₹3.68 lakh in cash. Further investigation revealed links to Salim Sheikh’s network operating from Dubai.
Following technical surveillance, the police traced the supply chain to a factory in Irali village, Kavthe Mahankal, Sangli, where on March 25, 2024, a coordinated raid uncovered 122.5 kg of mephedrone worth ₹245 crore along with chemicals and production equipment.
In total, authorities seized 126.14 kg of mephedrone valued at ₹252.28 crore, cash worth ₹3.62 crore, gold of ₹1.5 lakh, and vehicles and assets valued at ₹66.9 lakh, bringing the total seizure to ₹256.49 crore.
So far, 15 accused (14 men and one woman) have been arrested, including key operatives from Sangli, Surat, and Mumbai. Two other Dubai-based accused — Taher Salim Hola and Mustafa Mohammed Kubbawala — have already been extradited and arrested in connection with the same case.
According to Mumbai Police, the syndicate manufactured and supplied mephedrone across Maharashtra and Gujarat, sourcing raw materials from multiple states. Several Angadiya operators (traditional couriers) have also been arrested for facilitating the money trail.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam said,
> “This was one of the largest mephedrone seizures in Maharashtra’s history. The arrest of Mohammed Salim Sheikh marks a major success against international drug cartels operating from abroad. We will continue to pursue every offender, no matter where they are.”
The probe continues to trace the financial network and identify more individuals linked to this international drug syndicate.
