Notorious Drug Baron Behind Four Cocaine Shipments To Saudi Arabia And Qatar Arrested

Notorious Drug Baron Behind Four Cocaine Shipments To Saudi Arabia And Qatar Arrested

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have apprehended Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, a major drug trafficker, two years after he came under the Agency’s scrutiny.

Aremu, the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, was placed on the Agency’s watchlist due to his alleged involvement in four unsuccessful attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.

His involvement first surfaced on November 13, 2022, when Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a female passenger on a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia, was arrested at MMIA with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in her footwear. Investigation revealed that Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, Aremu’s brother, had hired Sidika. Further inquiries showed that Aremu had financed the suspect’s flight tickets and other travel expenses.

Just days after Sidika’s arrest, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was detained on November 24, 2022, with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in male footwear, also destined for Saudi Arabia. Oyenuga confessed that Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (aka Teacher), who was later arrested and convicted, had hired him on behalf of Aremu. Oyenuga also implicated Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (aka Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje, and Ejeoto) as a key intermediary.

During the ongoing investigation and manhunt for Aremu, two more drug couriers were arrested at MMIA on June 21, 2024, en route to Doha, Qatar. Aikhomoun Daniel (aka Oladapo Olanrewaju) was found to have ingested 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg, while Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji excreted 60 wraps totaling 662 grams. It was later discovered that these couriers were also recruited by Igbono, who is connected to Aremu and was involved in previous arrests.

Financial investigations by the Agency linked Aremu to the arrested suspects and his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, who remain at large. The Agency has since frozen the bank accounts associated with the cartel. Aremu was finally taken into custody on August 26, 2024, for further investigation.

Aremu claimed to be involved in property development and hotel management, residing in Lagos and Paris, France. He also stated that he operates a clothing business with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, and that his trips to Saudi Arabia were for religious purposes. He holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Properties traced to him include houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos.

Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted the NDLEA’s request to extend Aremu’s detention by 30 days and issued a warrant for the arrest of his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both still at large. The court declared them wanted for their involvement in drug trafficking activities with Aremu.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the MMIA Strategic Command for their diligent two-year investigation, which led to the conviction of three traffickers and the capture of the cartel’s kingpin. He affirmed that justice will prevail, regardless of the time it takes.