The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug baron, Suleiman Aremu (a.k.a Barryshine) two years after a hunt was initiated by the anti-narcotics agency.
In a statement by NDLEA, Aremu who is the CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd was placed 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, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.
Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi said the alleged drug baron’s name first featured on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on a Qatar Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Ajisegiri Sidika was arrested at the MMIA in possession of 400 grammes of cocaine, which was concealed inside female footwears.
He said investigations later revealed that one Abdullahi Ramon, who is a brother to Aremu hired the arrested drug courier, with further facts subsequently emerging that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by Alhaji Suleiman Aremu.
Babafemi also said the agency blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel after which Aremu was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024, for further investigation.
In his statements, Aremu was said to have claimed he is into property development and hotel management while he lives in Lagos and Paris in France. He also stated that he runs a clothing business with his wife at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia were to perform lesser Hajj. He added that he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land).
Currently, properties traced to Aremu include two houses at 63 and 72 Queens Street, Ebute-Metta and his Barryshine Hotel at 95 Freeman Street, Yaba, Lagos.
Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted an application by the NDLEA for the extension of the detention of the drug kingpin Aremu for 30 days and to declare his two associates, Olufemi Abidoye and Olanrewaju Ramon, both at large, wanted.
