Drug Trafficker Deported from UAE to India, Mumbai Police Take Charge

Quick Summary

• Kubbawala Mustafa, an alleged synthetic narcotics producer facing an Interpol Red Notice, was deported to India from the UAE on July 11, 2025.
• The operation was coordinated by the Central Bureau of Examination (CBI) through Interpol and Mumbai police.
• Mustafa arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at around 1 am and was taken into custody by the Mumbai crime branch.
• He is accused of running a synthetic drugs manufacturing facility in Sangli, Maharashtra, which produced over 126 kg of mephedrone (‘meow meow’), a party drug.
• A special court had issued an open-dated arrest warrant against him after he was chargesheeted in Mumbai.
• CBI worked with NCB-Abu Dhabi to geo-locate him in the UAE before coordinating his return to India through detailed follow-ups and international cooperation.
• He reportedly supplied materials for manufacturing high-quality mephedrone and distributed it among members of a drug syndicate across Gujarat.

Indian opinion Analysis

The prosperous extradition of Kubbawala Mustafa highlights India’s growing capabilities in leveraging international law enforcement collaboration for combating cross-border criminal activity. The operation showcases effective coordination between India’s CBI, local authorities like the Mumbai police, and global agencies such as Interpol alongside NCB-Abu Dhabi.Ensuring accountability for individuals involved in large-scale drug operations can play a significant role not only in restricting illicit substances but also disrupting broader syndicates operating regionally.

This case also underscores the importance of geo-location tactics paired with diplomatic dialogues to carry out extraditions efficiently. While this marks progress towards curbing synthetic narcotics production domestically, it points to larger challenges posed by transnational drug syndicates that exploit jurisdictional gaps for profit. Continued international cooperation will be necessary moving forward-not just for enforcement but also for prevention measures targeting raw material supply lines linked to manufacturing hubs abroad.

Read more: link