The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, popularly known as Barryshine, a notorious drug baron wanted for his involvement in several high-profile drug trafficking cases. Barryshine was apprehended two years after coming under the agency’s radar for his alleged role in four failed attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The illicit operations were intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.
Barryshine, whose name has been associated with large-scale drug trafficking networks, has long been on the NDLEA’s most-wanted list. His arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug smuggling syndicates operating across Nigeria and internationally. According to NDLEA, Barryshine was the mastermind behind the multiple failed attempts to smuggle substantial quantities of cocaine out of the country through the Lagos airport, intended for markets in the Middle East.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest in a statement, expressing satisfaction with the agency’s persistence in tracking down high-level traffickers like Barryshine. He highlighted that the drug baron had been elusive for years, operating behind the scenes while his operatives handled the physical export of drugs. The NDLEA believes his arrest will cripple a major arm of the cocaine trafficking network in Nigeria and discourage other barons from continuing such operations.
The successful capture of Barryshine underscores the NDLEA’s commitment to intensifying its war on drug trafficking, particularly in critical international airports, which have been key transit points for illegal drugs. As investigations continue, the agency is expected to make more arrests and unearth further details of Barryshine’s extensive drug operations. His apprehension is seen as a major victory in the fight against drug cartels in Nigeria.
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