The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) successfully secured the deportation of Kubbawala Mustafa from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mustafa was a wanted individual by the Mumbai Police in connection to a drug case.
The CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit (IPCU), working with NCB-Abu Dhabi, facilitated the return of Kubbawala Mustafa, who was the subject of a Red Notice, to India on July 11. A Mumbai Police team of four officers traveled to Dubai on July 7 to coordinate the deportation. They arrived back in Mumbai on Friday at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The CBI, through INTERPOL and NCB-Abu Dhabi, had previously tracked Mustafa’s location in the UAE.
Mustafa is wanted by the Mumbai Police in FIR No. 67/2024, registered at Kurla Police Station, Mumbai, for his alleged involvement in running a Synthetic Drug Manufacturing Factory in Sangli from overseas. Approximately 126.141 kg of Mephedrone drugs, valued at Rs 2.522 million, were confiscated from the factory linked to Mustafa and others. Mustafa has been charged, and an arrest warrant has been issued against him.
The CBI requested INTERPOL to issue a Red Notice on November 25, 2024. NCB-Abu Dhabi indicated on June 19, 2025, that they would assist in sending a security mission to repatriate Mustafa.
A Mumbai Police team was then assembled to bring Mustafa back from the UAE.
INTERPOL publishes Red Notices to all law enforcement agencies worldwide to help track down wanted criminals.
The CBI, serving as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, collaborates with all law enforcement agencies in the country through BHARATPOL using INTERPOL channels. More than 100 wanted criminals have been returned to India through INTERPOL channels in the last few years.