THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed a suspected drug baron, Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, (Barryshine) over shipping cocaine consignments to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Suleiman was arrested two years after coming under the radar of the anti-narcotics agency.
His arrest was disclosed in a statement on Friday, September 13 by the director, of Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.
According to Babafemi, the suspect who is the managing director of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, came under the agency’s watchlist over his alleged 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 agency stated that Suleiman’s name first featured on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika was arrested at the MMIA in possession of 400 grams of cocaine, which was concealed inside female footwear.
“Investigation later revealed that one Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, who is a brother to Suleiman hired the arrested drug courier. Further facts emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced 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 November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, concealed in male footwear while going to the same destination, Saudi Arabia.”
Babafemi said the suspect, Oyenuga confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a Teacher) who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman.
According to the NDLEA statement, two individuals, Aikhomoun Daniel (also known as Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were arrested at MMIA on June 21, 2024, while travelling to Doha, Qatar.
They were allegedly found to be carrying cocaine, with Daniel expelling 90 pellets weighing 1.022kg and Omobolaji excreting 60 wraps weighing 662 grams. Further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Daniel and Omobolaji were recruited by the same Igbono who works for the Suleiman and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajesegiri and Oyenuga.
“Financial investigation conducted by the Agency also linked the baron Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruit traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large.”
As a result, the Agency said it blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, for further investigation.
The NDLEA said Suleiman claimed he is into property development and hotel management while he lives in Lagos and Paris, France.
He also stated 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.
He also told NDLEA operatives that he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land).
The agency said 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.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance