Monday, October 10 2005 11:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: International drug dealer and Dawood Ibrahim aide Haji Haji Ismail was gunned down in a shoot-out with Gujarat police early yesterday (Oct 09, 2005) near Valsad district, police said here.

Ismail, wanted by the Interpol for running an international drug cartel, was shot dead after a gun-battle with policemen after he had entered Gujarat border from Maharashtra in the wee hours, police said.

Police teams had set-up watch near the state-border after receiving information about Ismail and exchanged fire after the criminal shot at them from his weapons, Valsad District Superintendent of Police Abhay Chudasma told PTI.

Ismail, part of an international drug cartel smuggling mandrax tablets, fired 12 rounds from his two weapons while officials fired 20 rounds and injured him grievously, the official said.

He breathed his last during treatment at a local hospital, the DSP said.

Originally a native of the coastal area of Jamkhambaliya in Jamangar district, Ismail has a string of arms, gold and silver smuggling cases registered against him where in his links with Dawood Ibrahim has been established, police said.

Ismail has been on run since the late 80's and was last arrested by Gujarat police in 1987 following which he jumped bail.

Police said that his name had also cropped up in some rioting cases in Mumbai and is known to own properties in the city including 'Hotel Columbus' in Bandra locality.

Officials said the investigation revealed that he used to manufacture the mandrax tablets from closed units in Valsad district and used to smuggle them to South Africa.

Police suspect that the elusive criminal was coming to Gujarat in connection with one such narcotic deal but added that more could be known only after detailed probe.