UAE extradites Indian man wanted for running synthetic drug lab

An open-dated arrest warrant had been issued against Mustafa, after a Red Notice was published by Interpol in November 2024

A key suspect in a major Indian narcotics case has been extradited from the UAE to India, Indian authorities confirmed on Friday.

Kubbawala Mustafa, wanted by Mumbai Police for his alleged involvement in operating a synthetic drug manufacturing facility, was extradited to India through coordinated efforts between India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Interpol, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Abu Dhabi.

Extradition is the removal of a person (typically referred to as a fugitive, according to legal experts) “from a requested jurisdiction to another jurisdiction for criminal prosecution or punishment.”

According to a statement issued by the CBI, a four-member team of Mumbai Police travelled to Dubai earlier this week and brought Mustafa back to Mumbai on July 11. He was reportedly tracked down in the UAE following close coordination between Indian and Emirati agencies.

Mustafa is facing charges under a 2024 case registered in Mumbai, in which authorities allege he was involved in running a synthetic drug lab in Sangli, Maharashtra. The operation, allegedly run with others, led to the seizure of over 126kg of mephedrone from the facility.

An open-dated arrest warrant had been issued against Mustafa, after a Red Notice was published by Interpol in November 2024. The extradition was facilitated following a formal request by Indian authorities and subsequent approval by NCB-Abu Dhabi in June this year.

The CBI said it has successfully brought back over 100 wanted individuals in recent years via Interpol coordination, with Mustafa being the latest.