Dawood Ibrahim (also known as Dawood Ebrahim and Sheikh Dawood Hassan) is a powerful and notorious Indian(Sunni Muslim) Mafia kingpin. He started his career in Bombay by working for the Karim Lala gang and soon shifted residence to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where he could mingle more freely in society. Dawood developed immense clout in the Gulf region and in India where the bulk of his illegal operations flourished. Dawood is said to have top politicians, police chiefs, businessmen and bankers in his pocket. After the Bombay Bomb Blasts, he achieved a new level of notoriety and moved to Pakistan from the UAE in order to maintain a low profile and keep away from the Indian and American intelligence units.

Dawood owns several businesses and prime properties in India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. His brother, Anees Ibrahim, is one of his key lieutenants along with Chhota Shakeel. Dawood was born to a constable and was quite poor but struck it rich after embarking on a life of crime.

According to the United States Department of Treasury, his syndicate is involved in large-scale shipments of narcotics in the U.K. and Western Europe. Its smuggling routes from South Asia, the Middle East and Africa are shared with Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. Successful routes established over recent years by his syndicate have been subsequently utilized by Bin Laden.

In the late 1990s, he traveled in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban. His syndicate has consistently aimed to destabilize the Indian government through inciting riots, acts of terrorism, and civil disobedience. He is currently wanted by India for the March 12, 1993 Bombay Bomb Blasts, which killed hundreds of Indians and injured over a thousand more. Information, from as recent as Fall 2002, indicates that he has financially supported Islamic militant groups working against India, such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT).

In 2003, the US government declared Dawood Ibrahim a Global Terrorist and froze all his assets in a bid to crack down on him and his notorious mafia operations.

For example, this information indicates that he has been helping finance increasing attacks in Gujarat by LeT.

See also

• Abu Salem

External link

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