Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted drug baron, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, two years after he came under the agency’s radar.
NDLEA revealed that Suleiman, the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, was being monitored for his alleged involvement in four failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport between 2022 and 2024.
Suleiman’s name first surfaced in November 2022, when a woman, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was arrested at the airport with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in her shoes while traveling to Saudi Arabia. Investigations linked her to Suleiman’s brother, who had hired her as a drug courier.
Shortly after, another individual, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was arrested with a similar amount of cocaine. He confessed that Suleiman had recruited him through an associate, further connecting Suleiman to the drug ring.
In June 2024, two more drug couriers were arrested at the same airport, excreting a combined total of over 1.6 kg of cocaine. Investigations revealed that these couriers were also linked to Suleiman.
As part of the investigation, NDLEA blocked bank accounts connected to the cartel, leading to Suleiman’s arrest on August 26, 2024. Suleiman, who claimed to be involved in property development and hotel management, denied involvement in drug trafficking.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has since extended Suleiman’s detention for 30 days and declared his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (aka Igbono) and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, wanted.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved in the lengthy investigation, emphasizing that the law will catch up with those involved in drug trafficking, no matter how long it takes.
