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Wanted drug baron, Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, who exports cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, has been apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He was arrested after a two-year surveillance.
Aremu was allegedly involved in four failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos between 2022 and 2024.
Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, released a statement on Friday confirming Suleiman’s role as the Managing Director and CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd.
The statement disclosed that Suleiman’s name initially surfaced on November 13, 2022, following the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, who was found with 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in female footwear at the MMIA.
According to Babafemi, investigations later revealed that one Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, who is Suleiman’s brother, hired the arrested drug courier.
The statement reads: “Further facts emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by 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 footwears while going to the same destination, Saudi Arabia.
“The suspect, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a. teacher), who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman.
“Lawal further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him up with the baron through one Igbono, who was later unveiled through investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (a.k.a. Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje, and Ejeoto).
“While investigation of the two cases subsisted and the manhunt for the baron was ongoing, two drug mules were arrested at the 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), expelled in observation custody a total of 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022 kg, 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 works for the baron and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajesegiri Kehinde Sidika and Lawal Lateef Oyenuga.
“Financial investigation conducted by the agency also linked 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 blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel, after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024, for further investigation.
“In his statements, 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 cloths with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia were to perform lesser hajj.
“He said he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land).
“Already, 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.”
Babafemi announced that Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted the NDLEA’s application to prolong Suleiman’s detention for an additional 30 days and to declare his associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, who are currently on the run, as wanted persons.
The NDLEA Spokesman reported that Justice Dipeolu’s ruling on the ex-parte motion in suit FHC/L/MISC/555/24 declared Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (aka “Igbono”, “Murphy”, “Femi Iwaya”, “Ade Iwaya”, “Baba Eje”, “Ejeoto”) a wanted individual, currently at large, due to his suspected involvement in various drug trafficking activities with Suleiman Aremu Ganiu (aka “Barryshine”).
According to the statement, the judge 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. Baryshine) with respect to the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, who was arrested at MMIA Ikeja-Lagos during outward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia with 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in foot wears.”
In response to the breakthrough, the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for their diligent and thorough two-year investigation, which led to the successful conviction of three traffickers and ultimately resulted in the apprehension of the mastermind behind the cocaine cartel.
He stated that this development proves that the law will inevitably apprehend those involved in criminal endeavours no matter how long it takes to bring them to justice.
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