Emergency Airlift & Arrest

In the early hours of July 11, 2025, Kubbawala Mustafa, an alleged mastermind behind a massive mephedrone (known colloquially as ‘meow‑meow’) operation, was deported from the UAE to India. An aircraft carrying him landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at around 1 am, where CBI-coordinated teams and Mumbai’s Crime Branch swiftly took him into custody.

Interpol Red Notice & CBI Operation

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s International Police Cooperation Unit (CBI‑IPCU), alongside NCB-Abu Dhabi and Mumbai Police, coordinated the operation. Mustafa had been on Interpol’s Red Notice list since November 25, 2024, following a chargesheet filed by Mumbai police. UAE authorities confirmed on June 19, 2025, their preparedness to extradite him.

Sangli Factory Bust & Drug Haul

Investigators in Sangli, Maharashtra, previously dismantled a synthetic-drug manufacturing setup linked to Mustafa, seizing 126.141 kg of mephedrone. Authorities allege he managed raw-material procurement from Ahmedabad and oversaw distribution of the party stimulant to Gujarat-based syndicates from overseas.

Timeline at a Glance

• November 25, 2024: Interpol issues Red Notice against Mustafa.
• June 19, 2025: NCB‑Abu Dhabi receives approval to extradite.
• July 11, 2025, ~1 am: Mustafa lands in Mumbai and is arrested on arrival.

Key Figures & Agencies Involved

• Kubbawala Mustafa: Alleged mephedrone kingpin and chemical supplier.
• CBI‑IPCU: Central agency coordinating international police exchange.
• NCB‑Abu Dhabi: National body facilitating extradition.
• Mumbai Crime Branch: Arrested Mustafa upon arrival.
• Mumbai & Sangli police: Conducted factory raid and filed charges.

Why It Matters

The operation highlights evolving cross-border collaboration against synthetic narcotics trafficking. It underscores India’s increasing reliance on Interpol and platforms like Bharatpol—a national portal launched on January 7, 2025, by the CBI—to track, extradite, and prosecute transnational criminals promptly. Since 2021, over 100 red-notice fugitives have been repatriated, including 26 in 2024.

Trivia Nuggets for Quiz Fans

• Drug name: Mephedrone (colloquial “meow‑meow”).
• Seized quantity: 126.141 kg.
• Red Notice date: November 25, 2024.
• Extradition approval: June 19, 2025.
• Deportation date: July 11, 2025, around 1 am.
• Bharatpol launch: January 7, 2025.

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Source: The Week