Drug Baron Behind Botched Cocaine Shipment Caught by NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended notorious drug kingpin, Suleiman Aremu, alias Barryshine, who had been on their wanted list.

According to the agency, Suleiman Aremu, the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, had been under surveillance for two years due to his suspected role in four foiled attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos between 2022 and 2024

On Friday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Aremu’s involvement in drug trafficking first came to light on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in women’s shoes on a Qatar Airways flight bound for Saudi Arabia

“An investigation later revealed that one Abdullahi Ramon, the brother of Suleiman, hired the arrested drug courier. Further information emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were financed by Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu.

“A few days after the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was also arrested on 24 November 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, concealed in male footwear while heading to the same destination, Saudi Arabia. The suspect, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (also known as Teacher), who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him on behalf of Suleiman.

“Lawal further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him to the baron through one ‘Igbono’, who was later identified during the investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (also known as Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje, and Ejeoto). While the investigation of the two cases was ongoing and the manhunt for the baron continued, two drug mules were arrested at the MMIA on 21 June 2024, on their way to Doha, Qatar.

“One of the suspects, later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (also known as Oladapo Olanrewaju), expelled 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg, which he had ingested, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, excreted 60 wraps of cocaine, with a total weight of 662 grams.”

Babafemi stated that further investigations revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel, and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were recruited by the same ‘Igbono’ who works for the baron and had also been involved in the 2022 arrests of Ajisegiri Sidika and Lawal Oyenuga.

He added that a financial investigation by the agency linked the baron, Suleiman, to the arrested suspects and two of his associates, who recruited traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both of whom are currently at large.

“As a result, the agency blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel, after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on 26 August 2024 for further investigation.

“In his statement, Suleiman claimed to be involved in property development and hotel management while residing in Lagos and Paris, France. He also stated that he runs another business selling clothes with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia were for the lesser Hajj pilgrimage. He said he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Some of Suleiman’s properties that have been traced include two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and his Barryshine hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos,” Babafemi added.

Babafemi also mentioned that Justice Dipeolu Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, granted an application by the NDLEA for the extension of Suleiman’s detention for 30 days and to declare his two associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.