Inside cocaine empire: NDLEA takes down kingpin Aremu behind international drug routes

Aremu

Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, after two years of evading capture.

Aremu was apprehended for his alleged involvement in multiple failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) between 2022 and 2024.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA‘s spokesman, in a statement said Suleiman, the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, first came under the agency’s radar on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was caught with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in women’s footwear while boarding a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia.

He said investigations revealed that the suspect was recruited by Suleiman’s brother, Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, with Suleiman financing her travel.

Babafemi said shortly after Sidika’s arrest, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was apprehended on November 24, 2022, with a similar quantity of cocaine—400 grams—concealed in men’s shoes while also headed to Saudi Arabia.

He said Oyenuga confessed to being hired by Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan, alias “Teacher,” who was later convicted.

He added that further investigations revealed that Gbolahan was connected to Suleiman through an intermediary known as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, also known as Igbono, Murphy, or Femi Iwaya.

While the NDLEA continued its search for Suleiman, two more drug mules were intercepted at MMIA on June 21, 2024, en route to Doha, Qatar.

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Babafemi disclosed that one suspect, identified as Aikhomoun Daniel, expelled 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, excreted 60 wraps of cocaine weighing 662 grams.

He said both suspects were later found to have been recruited by Igbono, further implicating Suleiman in the drug trafficking ring.

Babafemi explained that the agency’s financial investigation linked Suleiman directly to the operations, leading to the freezing of accounts associated with the cartel, saying that Suleiman was eventually arrested on August 26, 2024.

“In his defence, he claimed to be a property developer and hotelier, residing between Lagos and Paris. He also mentioned that he owned a clothing business with his wife at Balogun Market in Lagos and regularly traveled to Saudi Arabia for religious pilgrimages.

“Suleiman holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land). Authorities have traced several properties to him, including two houses on Queens Street, Ebute-Meta, and Barryshine Hotel on Freeman Street, Yaba,” Babafemi disclosed.

Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the NDLEA a 30-day extension to detain Suleiman while declaring his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (Igbono) and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large, wanted.

The court order was made under suit number FHC/L/MISC/555/24, officially declaring them fugitives for their involvement in the drug trafficking operations.

Reacting to Suleiman’s arrest, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the efforts of the MMIA Command, commending their two-year-long investigation, which led to the conviction of three traffickers and the capture of the drug baron.

Marwa reiterated that the agency would continue its relentless pursuit of all those involved in drug trafficking, no matter how long it takes.