The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a notorious drug baron, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, after a two-year-long investigation. The arrest follows his involvement in multiple failed attempts to smuggle cocaine through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, to Saudi Arabia and Qatar between 2022 and 2024.
Aremu, the Managing Director of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, had been on the NDLEA’s watchlist since November 2022, when a passenger, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was caught with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in footwear while boarding a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia. Further investigations revealed that Aremu’s brother, Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, had recruited the drug courier. Additionally, Aremu had financed the travel expenses of the suspect.
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NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, lauded the agency’s efforts, saying: “This demonstrates that the long arm of the law will always get whoever is involved in the criminal trade, no matter how long it takes.”
Following this initial arrest, several other couriers linked to Aremu were also detained. In June 2024, two more individuals, Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were caught at MMIA with cocaine ingested and concealed within their bodies. Investigations tied these suspects to Aremu’s drug syndicate, led by one of his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (alias Igbono), who is currently at large.
Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, granted an extension of Aremu’s detention for 30 days, also issuing a warrant for the arrest of his associates, Akande Abidoye and Olarenwaju Ramon. The court stated: “An order is hereby made declaring one Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye a.k.a. Igbono wanted, who is presently at large for his involvement in multiple drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a Barryshine).”
Aremu, who claims to be involved in property development and hotel management, was arrested on August 26, 2024. He denies the allegations, stating that his frequent travels to Saudi Arabia were for religious purposes.
The NDLEA has already blocked several bank accounts associated with the drug syndicate and continues its efforts to capture Aremu’s accomplices.