Canadian Woman Sentenced to 11 Years for Importing Cannabis into Nigeria

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, to 11 years in prison for importing 74 parcels of synthetic cannabis, known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ into Nigeria. The drugs, weighing 35.20 kilograms, were smuggled into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Munju on October 3, 2024, at Terminal 1 of the MMIA during an inward clearance of passengers on a KLM flight. Munju had arrived from Canada, and upon a thorough search, NDLEA officers discovered the drugs concealed in two suitcases.

During her arraignment on two counts, Munju pleaded guilty before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos. She admitted to trafficking the drugs in exchange for a promised payment of 10,000 Canadian dollars, which she intended to use to fund her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada. She said she had been recruited through an online platform and took the offer due to her financial struggles.

The prosecuting counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, outlined how Munju’s actions violated sections of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He presented key evidence, including the two suitcases used to smuggle the drugs, Munju’s Canadian passport, her confessional statements, laboratory test results, and drug samples. All were admitted as exhibits in court.

Angela Mba, an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, testified about the operation that led to Munju’s arrest. She provided detailed accounts of how the drugs were discovered and the steps taken by the NDLEA to ensure the suspect was brought to justice. Based on the guilty plea and the evidence presented, the court convicted Munju as charged.

Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years for the first count and five years for the second count, amounting to a total of 11 years in prison. However, the judge gave her an option of paying a N50 million fine for each count, which would total N100 million.

The two-count charge against Munju stated that she unlawfully imported and knowingly possessed 35.20 kilograms of cannabis, both of which are offenses under the NDLEA Act. Her actions were deemed illegal and punishable under Nigerian law, particularly for attempting to distribute dangerous narcotics within the country.

The NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), praised the efforts of the officers involved in the arrest and the efficient prosecution of the case. He also commended the judiciary for the swift conviction and sentencing, emphasizing that the harsh penalty should serve as a deterrent to others considering smuggling drugs into Nigeria. Marwa highlighted the agency’s commitment to maintaining the country’s strict anti-drug trafficking stance, warning that both Nigerians and foreigners alike will face the full force of the law for such offenses.

This case underscores Nigeria’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking and highlights the critical role the NDLEA plays in safeguarding the nation from illicit drug imports.