A known socialite who is close to many celebrities, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, popularly known as Barryshine, has been arrested by Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). He was arrested on August 26, 2024. The agency said he is a wanted drug baron, who has been under its radar for two years.
According to NDLEA, Suleiman who claimed he is into property development and hotel management while he lives in Lagos and Paris, France, is a drug dealer who employs traffickers.
He got on 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, MMIA Ikeja Lagos between 2022 and 2024.
His name first featured on November 13, 2022, when a female passenger on Qatar airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, Alhaja Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika was arrested at the MMIA in possession of 400 grams of cocaine, which was concealed inside female footwears.
A few days after, 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.
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.
Financial investigation conducted by the Agency also linked the baron Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruit traffickers for him.
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 clothes with his wife at Balogun market, Lagos Island, adding that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia was to perform lesser hajj.
He said he holds the traditional title of Akeweje of Yaba (Youth Leader of Yaba Land).
