DRI seizes ₹92 crore worth of mephedrone from a hidden lab near Bhopal, exposing a revived D-Company drug network linked to Dawood Ibrahim.
How a Local Drug Raid Uncovered Dawood Ibrahim’s New Operation
For decades, Mumbai lived in fear of Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted gangster. From contract killings to extortion rackets, the underworld once ruled the city’s dark alleys. But a recent raid in a quiet Madhya Pradesh village has revealed a shocking transformation of Dawood’s criminal empire—from guns to narcotics.
The Jagdishpura Drug Factory Bust: ₹92 Crore in Liquid Mephedrone Seized
On August 16, a swift raid by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) shattered the silence of Jagdishpura, a sleepy village near Bhopal. Inside House No. 11, investigators discovered:
- 61.20 kg of liquid mephedrone (MD) worth ₹92 crore
- 541 kg of raw chemicals for synthetic drug production
- Industrial-grade equipment, including reactors and temperature-controlled chambers
Officials say the lab was a full-fledged synthetic drug factory, built with precision and funded by global crime networks.
Dawood’s D-Gang Resurfaces Through Synthetic Drugs
Intelligence agencies now believe this operation is part of a revived D-Company network, funded by Dawood Ibrahim’s associates based in Pakistan, Dubai, and Turkey. Key suspects include:
- Salim “Dola” Ismail – former aide of Iqbal Mirchi, believed to be operating from Turkey
- Umaid-ur-Rehman – Dawood’s long-time associate
- Mustafa Kubbawala – nephew of Salim Dola and wanted under an Interpol Red Corner Notice
They are allegedly shifting their focus to mephedrone production, also known as “meow-meow,” a synthetic drug popular across Indian cities.
Chemicals Sourced from Mumbai, Produced in Bhopal
The lab was operated by:
- Faisal Qureshi – a pharmacy diploma holder from Ashoknagar
- Razzaq Khan – associate from Vidisha
Chemicals like methylene dichloride, acetone, hydrochloric acid, and monomethylamine were sourced from Bhiwandi and Thane, transported in mini-trucks under orders from Salim Dola.
Even local residents were roped in. One, Azharuddin Idrisi, was paid to pick up consignments from Anjur Phata and deliver them into central India.
Unusual Power Connection Raises Red Flags
A striking detail: the house had been abandoned for 7 years. Yet, on August 14, just two days before the raid, an electricity meter was installed and activated within hours—bypassing all routine checks.
Authorities now suspect bribery and collusion with local officials, without which such a high-powered drug lab could not have operated unnoticed.
Pan-India Network: More Arrests in Mumbai and Surat
Five additional arrests have been made in Mumbai and Surat, pointing to a nationwide web of operatives tied to the Dawood-linked drug trade.
The scale of the operation shows this was no local outfit—it was a well-funded, cross-border drug syndicate targeting India’s youth through synthetic narcotics.
The Underworld’s New Face: From Bullets to Chemicals
Experts warn that this is just the beginning. With nearly ₹100 crore worth of narcotics seized in one operation, the message is clear: the D-gang has evolved.
- From guns to drugs
- From fear to addiction
- From city streets to remote villages
Dawood Ibrahim’s legacy continues to cast a shadow—this time through chemicals cooked in hidden labs, not gunfire in alleyways.
A Wake-Up Call for Law Enforcement
The Jagdishpura raid is more than a local bust—it’s a wake-up call. The Dawood drug empire has quietly reinvented itself, and India must respond with modern tools, intelligence coordination, and aggressive enforcement to dismantle this new-age underworld.
