Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, a wanted drug baron who had been under the agency’s radar for two years. Aremu, the Managing Director and CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, was implicated in multiple attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
The NDLEA’s investigation first linked Aremu to drug trafficking on November 13, 2022, when Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a female passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, was caught at the airport with 400 grams of cocaine concealed inside female footwear. Further investigation revealed that Aremu’s brother, Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, had hired Sidika as a drug courier, and Aremu had financed her travel.
Just days later, on November 24, 2022, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was arrested with 400 grams of cocaine similarly hidden in male footwear while en route to Saudi Arabia. Oyenuga admitted that he was hired by Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan, alias “Teacher,” who was working on behalf of Aremu. Gbolahan was later arrested, convicted, and connected Oyenuga to Aremu through another associate known as Igbono, later identified as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, who used multiple aliases.
The manhunt for Aremu continued, and on June 21, 2024, two more drug couriers were intercepted at MMIA while attempting to smuggle cocaine to Doha, Qatar. The couriers, identified as Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, had ingested a combined total of 150 wraps of cocaine, weighing over 1.6 kilograms. Both men were found to have been recruited by Igbono, who was already connected to previous arrests linked to Aremu.
A financial investigation by the NDLEA further tied Aremu to these drug trafficking operations, leading to the freezing of bank accounts associated with his cartel. Aremu was finally captured on August 26, 2024, and is now in custody as the investigation continues.