The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has captured notorious drug kingpin, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, also known as Barryshine, following a two-year manhunt. Aremu, the mastermind behind a vast international cocaine trafficking network, was apprehended for his role in multiple failed attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) between 2022 and 2024.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed in a statement that Suleiman, the Managing Director and CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd, first came to the agency’s attention on November 13, 2022. On that day, a female passenger, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, was arrested with 400 grams of cocaine hidden in women’s footwear as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight to Saudi Arabia. Subsequent investigations revealed that Sidika was recruited by Suleiman’s brother, Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, with Suleiman financing her travel.
The arrest of Sidika marked the beginning of a deeper probe into the drug ring. Shortly after her capture, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga, was arrested on November 24, 2022, also with 400 grams of cocaine concealed in men’s shoes, bound for Saudi Arabia. Oyenuga later confessed to being hired by a middleman, Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan, also known as “Teacher,” who has since been convicted.
As the NDLEA delved further, it became evident that Gbolahan was connected to Suleiman through another key figure, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, also known by several aliases—Igbono, Murphy, or Femi Iwaya. This connection tied Suleiman to a larger network of traffickers, orchestrating a steady flow of cocaine exports to the Middle East.
The agency’s investigation continued through 2024, and on June 21 of that year, two more drug couriers were intercepted at MMIA while attempting to board a flight to Doha, Qatar. One suspect, Aikhomoun Daniel, expelled 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg, while the other, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, excreted 60 wraps of cocaine weighing 662 grams. Both were found to be working for Igbono, further tightening the noose around Suleiman’s operation.
The NDLEA’s investigation led not only to the arrest of multiple traffickers but also to a financial probe that linked Suleiman directly to the illicit activities. The agency froze several bank accounts associated with the drug cartel, cutting off its financial lifeline. Finally, on August 26, 2024, Suleiman was apprehended.
In his defense, Suleiman claimed to be a property developer and hotelier, living between Lagos and Paris. He also stated that he ran a clothing business with his wife at Lagos’ Balogun Market and traveled to Saudi Arabia for religious pilgrimages. Despite these claims, the NDLEA’s findings indicated otherwise. Suleiman, who holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land), was found to own multiple properties linked to the drug trade, including two houses on Queens Street in Ebute-Meta and the Barryshine Hotel on Freeman Street, Yaba.
Following Suleiman’s arrest, Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the NDLEA a 30-day extension to detain the drug baron. Additionally, Suleiman’s associates, Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (Igbono) and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, were declared wanted under suit number FHC/L/MISC/555/24, with both men still at large.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the MMIA Command for its persistence in bringing down the drug ring, despite the two-year-long investigation. Marwa lauded the conviction of three traffickers and the eventual capture of Suleiman, signaling a major victory for the NDLEA in its ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
“The agency will continue its relentless pursuit of all those involved in drug trafficking, no matter how long it takes,” Marwa reaffirmed.
The NDLEA’s efforts to dismantle international drug routes and bring kingpins like Suleiman to justice represent a significant stride in curbing the drug menace in Nigeria and abroad. However, the search for Suleiman’s fugitive associates and the complete breakdown of his network remains ongoing.
