Who is Kubbawala Mustafa? Drugs manufacturer deported from UAE to India, he is key supplier for…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that it has successfully helped bring back Kubbawala Mustafa, a wanted criminal, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the help of Interpol. Mustafa was being searched by the Mumbai Police in connection with a major drug case. In a statement, the CBI said, “Our International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU), along with NCB-Abu Dhabi, helped bring back Red Corner Notice accused Kubbawala Mustafa on July 11, 2025.”

A team of four Mumbai Police officers had gone to Dubai on July 7 to bring him back. They returned with Mustafa on July 11, landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The CBI said Mustafa was tracked down in the UAE after constant follow-up and coordination with Interpol and NCB-Abu Dhabi.

Who is Kubbawala Mustafa?

Kubbawala Mustafa is a man wanted by the Mumbai Police in a serious drug case. He is accused of running a synthetic drug factory in Sangli, Maharashtra, while staying abroad. The case was registered at Kurla Police Station in Mumbai.

Police found and seized 126.141 kg of Mephedrone, a banned drug, from the factory. The total value of the drugs was around Rs. 2.5 crore (25 million rupees). The factory was reportedly linked to Mustafa and a few others.

Mustafa is a resident of Surat in neighbouring Gujarat and had completed his education from Mumbai before teaming up with his uncle Salim Dola. He was a key material and chemical supplier for manufacturing high-quality mephedrone, and allegedly use to get raw materials for the purpose from Ahmedabad, the official said.

Mephedrone is a synthetic drug also known as 4-MMC or meow meow and it acts as a stimulant, similar to drugs like amphetamines.

He was also supplying the contraband to members of his syndicate in Gujarat, the Mumbai police official informed. Money generated from the mephedrone business was routed abroad through hawala, the official said, adding that an ‘angadia’ (traditional courier) was arrested earlier.

Mustafa has already been chargesheeted in this case, and the court issued an arrest warrant against him.

Red notice issued through interpol to bring back Kubbawala Mustafa

In November 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) got a Red Notice issued through interpol against Kubbawala Mustafa at the request of the Mumbai Police. This was part of an effort to locate and bring him back to face charges in a major drug case.

A Red Notice is a request shared with police forces worldwide to help track down and arrest wanted criminals.

According to the CBI, on June 19 the NCB-Abu Dhabi informed Indian authorities that the UAE government had approved the transfer of Mustafa and requested India to send a police team to bring him back. Soon after, a team from Mumbai Police was sent to UAE.

The CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU), working closely with NCB-Abu Dhabi, played a key role in bringing back Mustafa, who was the subject of the Red Notice.

As India’s official Interpol liaison (National Central Bureau), CBI coordinates with law enforcement agencies across the country through its platform BHARATPOL for international police assistance.

The CBI also noted that over 100 wanted criminals have been brought back to India in recent years through Interpol cooperation.

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