**Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate Conducts Raids in Drug Trafficking Money Laundering Probe**
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted search operations at eight locations across Mumbai, including Dongri, Mazgaon, Worli, and adjoining areas. These premises are linked to a money laundering investigation targeting a suspected drug trafficking network allegedly operated by Faisal Javed Shaikh and his wife, Alfiya Faisal Shaikh.
According to officials, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, aiming to trace the alleged proceeds of crime generated from the sale of narcotics.
### Background of the Case
Faisal Javed Shaikh, a resident of Dongri, was previously arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2023 in a case connected to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. Investigators have described him as a pivotal figure in Mumbai’s illicit drug trade, particularly in Dongri and nearby areas, with international links to global trafficking networks and operational ties to the D-Company.
Shaikh is accused of procuring MD (mephedrone, colloquially called ‘meow meow’) from Salim Dola, a notorious drug kingpin and one of India’s most wanted narcotics traffickers. Dola, reportedly operating from abroad, is believed to be the financial and operational backbone behind several cross-city and international drug syndicates.
### About Salim Dola and His Network
Investigations reveal that Salim Dola has established a vast network for supplying synthetic drugs, particularly mephedrone, across multiple states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. His operations encompass drug manufacturing, large-scale distribution, and laundering of proceeds through complex financial channels.
Dola is wanted by multiple Indian law enforcement agencies, and Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against him. Meanwhile, the NCB has announced a reward for credible information leading to his arrest.
Officials stated that Dola played a key role in supplying narcotics, including mephedrone, to Faisal Shaikh’s network. Furthermore, Dola’s international contacts enabled the syndicate to source drugs and launder proceeds through offshore channels.
### Recent Arrests Targeting the Syndicate
The ED’s ongoing probe forms part of a comprehensive investigation into the financial framework of Shaikh’s operations, focusing on tracing illicit fund flows and identifying beneficiaries of the money laundering network.
In a significant breakthrough, Taher Salim Dola, son of kingpin Salim Dola, was arrested in Abu Dhabi in January 2025. Following coordinated efforts by the CBI, Interpol, and UAE authorities, he was deported to India. On June 13, 2025, he was handed over to Mumbai Police and is currently in judicial custody, facing charges related to a synthetic drug manufacturing facility in Sangli, Maharashtra. Authorities seized 126.14 kg of mephedrone at this location, valued at approximately Rs 252 crore.
In a parallel operation, Mustafa Mohammad Kubbawala, Dola’s nephew and a key supplier of raw materials for mephedrone production, was arrested in Dubai in May 2025. He was deported to India on July 11, 2025, following a coordinated effort by the CBI and NCB-Abu Dhabi. Both arrests mark important steps in dismantling the syndicate’s global narcotics operations.
### Faisal Shaikh’s Involvement and Legal Proceedings
Investigators have also established Shaikh’s direct involvement in large-scale trafficking of narcotics, including mephedrone and cocaine. Notable seizures linked to him include:
– 68 grams of mephedrone in 2017
– 20 kg of mephedrone in 2023
– 940 grams of cocaine in 2024
In 2025, authorities invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Shaikh. Pursuant to a detention order issued by the Joint Secretary (PIT-NDPS), Government of India, on March 26, 2025, Shaikh was transferred from Arthur Road Prison, Mumbai, to Puzhal Central Prison, Chennai, to prevent contact with his associates in Mumbai.
NCB investigations also uncovered extensive assets linked to Shaikh’s network, including cash, gold, silver, and immovable properties valued at Rs 6.40 crore. These assets were frozen under the NDPS Act during 2023–24.
### Role of Alfiya Faisal Shaikh
Alfiya Faisal Shaikh, wife of Faisal Shaikh, is reportedly involved in the financial operations of the network. While her specific role remains under investigation, her inclusion in the ED raids indicates active participation in laundering proceeds from drug sales.
### Ongoing Enforcement Directorate Operations
Officials said that the ED’s ongoing search operations focus on mapping the financial architecture of Shaikh’s network and identifying beneficiaries of its laundering activities. The ED operation is currently underway, and authorities have yet to disclose details of any seizures or arrests resulting from today’s raids.
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