National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug baron, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu also known as Barryshine, who was allegedly involved in four foiled attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency revealed this through a statement released by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
The Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd was placed on the agency’s watchlist in 2022 after he allegedly got involved in drug trafficking activities.
The agency said Suleiman had played a role in four foiled attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.
The suspect’s name first featured on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was arrested at MMIA in possession of 400 grams of cocaine concealed inside female footwear.
Subsequently, investigation revealed that the suspect’s brother, Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon hired the arrested drug courier.
Further investigation also revealed that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by Suleiman.
A few days after the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga was also arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams concealed in male footwear while also going to Saudi Arabia.
Lawal confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan aka Teacher who was later arrested and arraigned in court, hired him for Suleiman.
He further said that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him up with the baron through one Igbono, who was later unveiled through investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye alanIgbono,
Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje, and Ejeoto.
While the investigation of the two cases subsisted and the manhunt for the baron was ongoing, two drug mules were arrested at MMIA on June 21, 2024, on their way to Doha, Qatar.
One of the suspects, who was later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel a.k.a. Oladapo Olanrewaju excreted in observation custody a total of 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg, which he ingested, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, excreted 60 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 662 grams.
Further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel, and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were recruited by the same Igbono who worked for the baron and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika and Lawal Lateef Oyenuga.
A financial investigation conducted by the agency also linked Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruited traffickers for him; Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon who are currently at large.
NDLEA blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel, and Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024, for further investigation.
Suleiman in his statement, alleged he is into property development and hotel management while he lives in Lagos and Paris, France.
He added that he runs another business that deals in clothes with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia were to perform lesser hajj.
The drug baron said he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land).
Some properties traced to Suleiman include two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and his Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos.
The presiding judge of the Federal High Court of Lagos, Justice Dipeolu Deinde has granted an application by NDLEA for an extension of detention of Suleiman for 30 days and to declare his two associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.
Ruling on the motion ex-parte in suit number:
FHC/L/MISC/555/24, Justice Dipeolu said:
“An order is hereby made declaring one
Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye a.k.a. ‘Igbono’,
‘Murphy’, ‘Femi Iwaya’, ‘Ade Iwaya’, ‘Baba Eje’,
‘Ejeoto’ wanted who is presently at large for his involvement in multiple drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a. Barryshine).”
He also ruled that “an order is hereby made declaring one Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulahi wanted who is presently at large for his involvement in the drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (a.k.a. Barryshine) with respect to the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika who was arrested at MMIA Ikeja- Lagos during outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in footwear.”
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for the painstaking two-year investigation that culminated in the conviction of three traffickers and the eventual arrest of the kingpin behind the cartel.
Marwa said this demonstrates that the long arm of the law will always get whoever is involved in criminal trade, no matter how long it takes.
